Peruvian War of Independence

The Peruvian War of Independence (Spanish: Guerra de Independencia del Perú) was a series of military conflicts in Peru from 1809 to 1826 that resulted in the country's independence from the Spanish Empire. Part of the broader Spanish American wars of independence, it led to the dissolution of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru.

Throughout the colonial period of Peru, there were early attempts of independence movements. The Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II, although not the first or the last, was the most significant and culminated in violent repression by the viceregal authorities. This uprising erupted in response to the Bourbon Reforms and was the first time that viceregal documents used the term "insurgents." It was also a movement that proclaimed the abolition of slavery in Peru. However, there is debate as to whether the purpose of this rebellion was truly independence or a revolution of the viceregal social order.

French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's 1808 invasion of Spain resulted in the abdications of Charles IV and Ferdinand VII in favour of Joseph Bonaparte. In Spanish America, autonomous governments arose in the power vacuum and instability of mainland Spain in Europe. Initially, Peru was a stronghold for royalists, with Viceroy José Fernando de Abascal y Sousa using Peru as a base for counterrevolutionary forces.

In 1820, the Liberating Expedition of Peru, under the command of Argentine General San Martín forced the viceroyalty to abandon Lima and fortify itself in Cusco. But conflict between San Martin and Simón Bolívar at the Guayaquil Conference divided patriot forces.

Aided by Bolivar fighting continued with the definitive defeat of the Spanish Army in 1824, with the surrender of the last major Spanish strongholds in 1826. The Battle of Ayacucho in 1824 secured the independence of Peru and of all nations in South America.