When Did Colombia Gain Independence ?
Colombia has the unique distinction of celebrating her independence day on two days. |
The country celebrates July 20 as one independence day as this was the day when the revolutionary leaders declared independence from Spanish rule, and the other independence day is celebrated in August 7, which is the date when the last battle against the Spanish was successfully fought and won way back in 1819.In 1498, Christopher Columbus ventured until the mouth of the Orinoco River. Then in 1509, Alonso de Ojeda led another Spanish expedition to Colombia, and finally in 1525 the first Spanish city was founded on the Caribbean coast of the country. This city was Santa Marta. In 1536, Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada traversed the Magdalena River looking for the legendary city of El Dorado, and after winning the battle against the Chibcha Indians, he founded the city of Bogota in 1538. Thus, started the long and oppressive Spanish rule in Colombia.
However, Colombian revolutionary leaders started fighting for independence from Spain in 1810. By 1812, large part of Colombia was under the control of Simon Bolivar, who waged many battles against the Spanish. The last battle against Spain was fought in 1819. At that time, Colombia was known as Greater Colombia and included the present-day countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.
Under the valiant leadership of Simon Bolivar and Francisco de Paula Santander, Colombia declared independence from Spanish rule on July 20, 1810. However, the actual independence came in 1819, and thereafter Bolivar and Paula Santander became the first president and vice president of free Colombia.
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