Spanish American Independence

Introduction

At the beginning of the 19th century, after nearly 300 years of Spanish colonial rule, wars of independence broke out in Mexico, Central and South America. These revolutions led to the formation of the 18 Spanish-speaking nations we see today in Latin America.

The British Library holds a wealth of material relating to the history of Spanish American independence: books, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, personal letters, political pamphlets, music scores, stamps, state papers and other official documents.

This feature focuses on the campaigns for independence in Spanish America during the 1800s and the 1820s, and the creation of the contemporary nation-states in the region. It also discusses the involvement and impressions of British witnesses.

Text by Iona Macintyre. Curated in association with the Americas Collections at the British Library.

Caption: The Victory of Junín is an epic poem written by Olmedo that celebrates the Battle of Junín in 1824 in which revolutionary troops led by General Simón Bolívar defeated Spanish forces in present-day Peru. This edition was published in London in 1826. The engraving depicts Huayna-Cápac, one of the last Incan emperors, who died fighting the Spanish conquistadores in the 16th century. The Inca ruler returns from the dead and appears to Bolívar’s troops prophesising bloodshed and the eventual defeat of the Spaniards.