War of Independence of Maynas

Maynas campaign
Part of the Peruvian War of Independence and the Spanish American Wars of Independence
File:Reconocimiento de Nicolás Arriola por parte de Don José de San Martín.jpg Peruvian recognition of Maynas' independence
Date April 10, 1821 — January 9, 1823 Location General Command of Maynas Result Peruvian Patriot victory The General Command of Maynas was incorporated into Peru in 1822
Belligerents
Maynas rebels Peruvian Protectorate Peruvian Republic Supported by: Río de la Plata	Spanish Empire General Command of Maynas Province of Quito
Commanders and leaders
Pedro Pascasio Noriega Executed Matiaza Rimachi Juan Valdivieso José María Egúsquiza Nicolás Arriola	Manuel F. Álvarez † Santiago Cárdenas Executed José María Matos †
Units involved
Peruvian Army Invisible Army Army of the Andes	Royal Army of Peru
Casualties and losses
200–900 killed	5,000–8,000+ killed 4,000+ Spaniards executed 1,000 civilians Peruvianized 5,000+ deported

The Maynas War of Independence (Spanish: Guerra de Independencia de Maynas), also known as the Maynas War (Spanish: Guerra de Maynas), or Maynas campaign (Spanish: Campaña de Maynas), was an episode of the Spanish American Wars of Independence where the General Command of Maynas declared its independence from the Spanish Empire. It started with the royalist army's takeover of the city of Moyobamba in response to the city's imminent declaration of independence and ended with the capture of the city in 1822.

Conflict

The conflict took place within the Spanish American Wars of Independence. The General Command of Maynas, a territory created under the Spanish Empire, had been preceded by the declarations of independence of the Republic of Colombia (in 1819) and the Protectorate of Peru (in 1821) in its immediate surroundings.

April 10, 1821, had been chosen as the date for Maynas' declaration of independence, although said plans were interrupted when troops of the Royal Army of Peru took over the city of Moyobamba, the capital of the General Command, capturing a number of so-called patriots, such as Pedro Pascasio Noriega, who was executed on the 11th.

In response to the events, José Bernardo de Tagle y Portocarrero, 4th Marquess of Torre Tagle, then intendant of Trujillo, sent troops under the command of Juan Valdivieso (who had previously defeated the royalists at Higos Urco). Once in the city, an armistice was requested to settle on the area's future, with August 10 chosen as the date of independence, although an open cabildo ultimately carried out said proclamation on August 19. On August 17, Governor Manuel Fernández Álvarez asked the opinion of a war council, which decided that the forces would take refuge in Tabatinga, delivering artillery and ammunition to Luso-Brazilian commanders.

The Royal Army carried out a counter-insurgent military campaign that recaptured Moyobamba on May 24, 1822. In response, the 200-men 11th battalion of the Army of the Andes was sent under the command of Nicolás Arriola. Battles took place in La Ventana, Tambo Visitador, Sarandajas, Habana and the Pampa de Higos Urco. The latter two served as a decisive point in the campaign, with the patriot armies successful in their consolidation of Maynas' independence soon after. The battle at Higos Urco also gave San Martín the confidence to take over Lima, proclaiming the independence of Peru on July 28, 1821.

See also

• Spanish American Wars of Independence
• Peruvian War of Independence