Empire · 1819–1831 · Northern South America
Gran Colombia
Gran Colombia was the republic created by Simón Bolívar's independence campaigns in northern South America; historians use the name to distinguish it from today's Colombia. After his victory at Boyacá in 1819, the Congress of Angostura proclaimed the Republic of Colombia, joining the former Viceroyalty of New Granada and the Captaincy General of Venezuela, and the Congress of Cúcuta gave it a constitution in 1821.
Victories at Carabobo in 1821 and Pichincha in 1822 added Venezuela's heartland and Quito, and Panama joined after breaking from Spain. Bolívar was president but was often away leading campaigns in Peru, leaving Vice President Santander to govern from Bogotá. The country was huge, with poor communications, and regional leaders in Venezuela and Quito resented central rule. Venezuela and Ecuador seceded in 1830, the year Bolívar died, and the union dissolved in 1831.
- Years
- 1819–1831
- Capital
- Bogotá
- Greatest extent
- 1825, about 2.40 million km²
- Region
- Northern South America
Approximate: the combined area of present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama; with claimed Amazon lands now in Brazil and Peru, Wikipedia gives c. 3.06M km²
Legacy
Its successors are Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama, and Bolívar's dream of a united Spanish America still inspires politicians across the region.
Rulers
- Simón Bolívar 1819–1830
The Liberator, president of the republic
- Francisco de Paula Santander 1821–1827
Vice president who governed in Bolívar's absence
- Joaquín Mosquera 1830
President during the final breakup
- Rafael Urdaneta 1830–1831
General who briefly seized power
Realms on the map
- Gran Colombia 1822–1829