"
[Footnote 1: Augustin de Iturbide was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico as the
result of a mutiny led in Mexico City by a sergeant called Pio Marcha.]
Regarding the battle of Pichincha, he said: "Sucre is the Liberator of
Ecuador."
No better praise could be given his worthy lieutenant.
Once in Quito, he received the alarming news from Peru, which province had
been left by San Martin, that several serious defeats had been suffered by
the independents. He immediately made ready to free the viceroyalty from
Spain, realizing that while Peru remained under Spain the independence
of Colombia would be in danger. The viceroy of Peru had 23,000 European
soldiers and all the resources necessary to carry on war.
Peru was the last South American country to proclaim its independence.
Although there had been some movements of insurrection in 1809 in Alto Peru
(now Bolivia), they were soon quelled and the country once more placed
under the dominion of Spain. As a result, Peru was in position to send
reinforcements to the royalists in Chile and was a constant menace to
Colombia. The patriots of Chile, after obtaining their freedom, organized
San Martin's expedition to invade Peru. When San Martin entered Lima early
in July, 1821, the viceroy (Pezuela) was deposed by an assembly, and
Laserna was appointed to take his place. Once in Lima, San Martin entered
upon a period of inactivity which resulted in heavy losses to the
independents. He was even ready to communicate with the Spaniards in order
to arrange for the establishment of a regency in Peru, awaiting the arrival
of a European prince to govern the country.
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