Month of South American Independences

MINKA NEWS English edition 60, 000 copies Castellano - Português Month of South American Independences

MINKA NEWS IS A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER.  DIRECTOR RAUL MANCERA. 7 AUGUST 2011.  If you want to receive this newsletter in your e-mail write us to: MINKANEWS@YMAIL.COM

INDEX The British and Irish legion in the South American independence wars  BRITISH BRAZILIAN AWARDS THE BRITISH LEGION IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE WARS Battle of Boyacá 7 August, 1819 Battle of Junín August 6, 1824 Press Award/Reino Unido divulga lista dos premiados de sua edição inaugural Legión británica The British and Irish legion in the South American independence wars This weekend we remember two decisive battles were British and Irish soldiers played a decisive role in the independence of Latin America. On August 7 (1819) Bolívar’s combined Colombian and Venezuelan armies with the British-Irish legion defeated the Spanish royalist at Boyacá liberating Bogotá, the capital of the Spanish viceroyalty of the Northern Andes. On August 6 (1824) Bolívar leading an army with soldiers from all the 10 Hispanic South American countries defeated the last continental American Spanish viceroyalty at Junín (central Peru).  General William Miller was one of the heroes. Four months later the Latin American and British legions achieved the final victory against Madrid in continental America. On August 6 (1825) the Upper Peru was declared the new Republic of Bolivia. Every year the Bolivians celebrate their national day in August 6 and the Colombian had a national festivity on August 7, the date in which every 4 years a new Colombian President starts his period. Today Juan Manuel Santos, who lived many years in England, is achieving one year in office.     Yesterday night the Bolívar Hall was full of people celebrating Bolivia’s national day. The ambassador Beatriz Souvirone and the Consul Paola Verónica organized the event and today both are going to attend a 1,000-strong Christian cult at Elephant and Castle. At the same time most of the leaders of the 300,000 strong British Brazilian community gathered at the Canary Wharf Hilton to discuss with their Brazilian parliamentarian from abroad and to award around 20 personalities and organizations. We dedicate this special issue to the memory to 6,000 British and Irish soldiers who fought in the South American independence wars.    BRITISH BRAZILIAN AWARDS On Friday 5 and Saturday 6 the UK’s Brazilian community had one of its most important events ever: the International Brazilian Press Award. The most distinguished artist, cultural, media, social and community personalities were distinguished. Around 300 people gathered at the Hilton Hotel (Canaru Wharf) un a very well organized event that started with a panel with the President of the Parliament of the Brazilian living abroad (CRBE) and the four Brazilian European members of that Parliament. They discussed many issues relating the 3 million Brazilian living outside their homeland. Around 20 personalities and organizations from all the European Brazilian community were awarded.   The event finished few hours ago. Minka had a report in Portuguese on it in its Portuguese language section, and a full report in English is going to appear in the incoming week. In the above picture is Professor Else Vieira, one of the collaborators of Minka News, who received the awards for promoting the Brazilian culture in the UK. THE BRITISH LEGION IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE WARS The Union Flag was a battle flag of the British Legions during Bolívar's campaign to liberate New Granada.[1]   The British Legion or British Legions were foreign volunteer units that fought under Simón Bolívar against Spain for the independence of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru. The Venezuelans called them the Albion Legion. They were composed of over seven thousand volunteers, mainly Napoleonic War veterans from Great Britain and Ireland, as well as some German veterans and some locals recruited after arriving in South America. Volunteers in the British Legion were motivated by a combination of both genuine political and mercenary motives.[1] Their greatest achievements were at Boyacá (1819), Carabobo (1821), and Pichincha (1822), which secured independence for Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, and during the last great campaign, culminating in the Battle of Ayacucho in Peru (1824), which destroyed Spanish rule in South America forever. The British Legions fought until the end of the wars, their number much depleted. Flag of the Irish Legion carried by General Devereux.[2] In March 1819, Bolivar combined most of his foreign volunteers into a brigade of 250 men named the British Legions, with James Rooke as commander. The British Legions consisted of the 1st British Legion led by Colonel James Towers English, the 2nd British Legion led by Colonel John Blossett, and the Irish Legion, led by Colonel William Aylmer (1772–1820). The British Legions were an important part of Bolívar's army. They played a pivotal role in the Vargas Swamp Battle on July 25, 1819, and Bolivar credited them with the victory at the subsequent Battle of Boyacá on August 7, 1819, saying "those soldier-liberators are the men who deserve these laurels." At the victory at Carabobo Bolívar describing them as "the saviours of my country".[3] Nonetheless, they have been largely forgotten in the countries in which they fought: Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador and Peru. Motivation The motivations of volunteers for the British Legions were mixed. Many Britons were still concerned by the threat that Spain, as a restored world power, potentially posed to Britain. Despite Spain and Britain having been allies in the Peninsular War just a few years before, many Britons' image of the Spanish in America was influenced by the now-disputed Black Legend. Volunteers were also motivated by the liberal propaganda of Bolívar's supporters that portrayed the war as bringing freedom and rights to people under Spanish tyranny. For these reasons, particularly the former, the recruiting of British volunteers received tacit government support, even if in principle the British Crown discontinued its support to the insurgents after the Congress of Vienna in 1814.[4] However mercenary interests also played a large part in motivating potential recruits, who were often unemployed, and who perceived South America as a land of immense wealth of which they would be able to have a share. At the end of the Napoleonic Wars the British Empire no longer required a large standing army. In April, 1817, The Times calculated that there were 500,000 ex-soldiers in a British population of 25 million. After a quarter-century of Continental wars—both the wars against Revolutionary France and the Napoleonic Wars—these men had no other employment history or trade and, therefore, often found themselves in poverty. South America's wars of independence provided many of them with an opportunity to continue their military careers and escape from the prospect of inactivity and poverty at home. Leaders: Number of British soldiers Número de soldados británicos Colonel Hippisley 720 Colonel English 1.200 Colonel Elson 572 General D’Evereux 1.729 General Mac Gregor 600 Colonel Meceroni 300 Others/ Otros 387 Total 5.508 James Rooke (1770-1819) was a British career soldier in the Napoleonic wars. He became commander under Simon Bolivar of the British Legions during the South American wars of independence. James Rooke was born in Dublin around 1770. He joined the British Army in 1791 and fought in various campaigns against the French, reaching the rank of Major by 1802. Rooke was well-connected, and became a close friend of the Prince of Wales. However, in 1801 he had to sell most of his property to pay his debts, and moved to France, which was then at peace with Britain. When war broke out again, the French authorities interned Rooke. He remained in prison until his escape at the start 1813, when he joined Wellington's army in Spain. Rooke was discharged from the army when hostilities ended in 1814, but on Napoleon's return in 1815, he rejoined and fought at the Battle of Waterloo. Rooke left the British army in 1816 and made a trip to St. Kitts in the Caribbean to visit his sister, who was wife of the Governor of the colony. In September 1817, Rooke sailed to Angostura (now Ciudad Bolívar) in Venezuela and enrolled in Bolivar’s Patriot army as a Lieutenant Colonel. He organized and was given command of an Anglo-Venezuelan unit, the 1st Regiment of Hussars of Venezuela.[1] With this unit, he fought in various battles in the inconclusive Venezuelan campaign of 1818, and received two wounds. In March 1819, Bolivar combined most of his foreign volunteers into a brigade of 250 men named the British Legion, with Rooke as commander. In a bold attempt to break the stalemate with the Spanish forces, Bolivar decided to move west, ascend the Andes and seize the high ground. The journey in the height of the rainy season was gruelling and the force lost 300 men en route, of whom 60 were from the British Legion.[2] After a pause for recovery, Bolivar led his forces in the Vargas Swamp Battle, in Boyacá, Colombia, where the British Legion under Rooke fought with distinction, storming uphill against the Spanish defences. During this action Rooke was seriously wounded which led to the amputation of his left arm.[3] Once Rooke lost his arm, he raised his right arm and shouted in poorly accented Spanish: "Viva la Patria!" The surgeon asked him in English: "Which Country? Ireland or England?" Rooke shook his head and replied: "The Country which will bury me..." Shortly after, Rooke died on 28 July 1819 at a monastery in Belén de Chámeza, near Tunja. Rooke is remembered proudly and Colombia honors him for being one of the architects of south American nations independence. His widow, Mrs. Anna Rooke, drew a pension for life and was given honors of a Military Widow. [4] There is a bronze statue of Colonel Rooke at the nearby village of Paipa. James Towers English (22 February 1782 – 26 September 1819) was an Irish commander of British Legions forces in the South American wars of independence. James Towers English was the son of a well-to-do Dublin merchant. He went into business supplying horses to the British Army until his company went bankrupt, then took a job with the army Commissariat as a clerk.[1] In May 1817 he met López Méndez, the representative of Simon Bolívar in London. Claiming to have been a cavalry lieutenant, he was made a captain in the '1st Venezuelan Hussars' and sailed for South America in December 1817. He fought with distinction at the battle of Ortiz on 26 March 1818, and was promoted to full Colonel and appointed second-in-command of the British Guard of Honor led by James Rooke.[2] In May 1818, he signed a contract with the Patriot government to recruit and equip a British force of 1,000 men, in return for which he was promised £50 per head and a General's commission. By painting a rosy picture of pay and conditions in South America, he succeeded in recruiting between 1,000 and 2,000 mercenaries, who sailed during the following months. English returned to Venezuela and landed on Margarita Island in mid-April, 1819 where he was confirmed in the rank of Brigadier General and was given command of all the foreign mercenaries, as subordinate to Venezuelan General Rafael Urdaneta.[3] In July 1819 he participated in storming the fortress of El Morro, which guarded the city Barcelona. His troops looted the city, drank all the alcohol they could find and devastated their section of the town. On August 7 1819 Urdaneta's army attempted to storm Maturín but failed after grievous losses in their assault against Fort Agua Santa, while General English remained in the rear pleading sickness.[1] With his authority destroyed, English was replaced as leader of the British Legion by Colonel John Blossett. English retired to Margarita Islandwhere he died of illness on 26 September 1819 and is buried in a cemetery overlooking Juan Griego Bay.[4] His wife, Mary, remained in Colombia and married the English trader William Greenup.[5] Colonel John Blossett was a British soldier who led the second British Legion to aid Simon Bolivar in the wars of independence against Spain. Born in Ireland, the great-grandson of Huguenot Brigadier-General Salomon Blosset de Loche who had assisted William of Orange in the taking of the British Crown in 1688, Blossett entered the British Army in 1798, serving in the 10th Foot and rising to the level of Captain in 1814 and Major at the time of his discharge from the army in 1817. In 1819 Blossett was awarded the rank of Colonel by Simon Bolivar as leader of the British expedition to assist him in the war of independence, taking over from General James Towers English.[1] Having fought a number of duels throughout his career Blossett was fatally shot by Colonel Power whilst on the expedition in South America. William Aylmer (1778-1820) from Painstown, County Kildare, Ireland was a leader of the United Irishmen in the 1798 Rebellion against the British government. At the Battle of Ovidstownon 19 June 1798 he led a fierce battle against superior forces in which 200 insurgents died. Aylmer retreated into the inaccessible Bog of Allen and set up a defensive camp for over a month. Eventually he surrendered in return for a safe conduct abroad; effectively a form of exile.[1][2] Released from prison in 1802, he went into exile to Austria[3], where he served as an officer and noted swordsman in the Austrian Army, from which he was at one point detached to tutor British Dragoons in the art of swordsmanship.[4] After almost twenty years in Austria he returned to Ireland, and in 1819 sailed from Dublin to Venezuela with 200 officers and men to assist Simon Bolivar's independence struggle as commander of the Tenth Lancers and second in command of the Irish Legion under lieutenant-colonel Francisco Burdett O'Connor. He arrived in September 1819 on the island of Margarita off the coast of Venezuela, where lack of preparations caused severe hardships. Many of the volunteers died or returned to Ireland.[5][6] He was wounded at the Battle of Rio Hacha on 25 May 1820 and died in Jamaica on 20 June 1820.[7] Martin Guisse was a Royal Navy Admiral and veteran of the Battle of Trafalgar who later assumed command of the Peruvian Navy, in whose service he was killed in action in 1829. Guisse was a restless, adventure-loving man. Like Lord Cochrane he had been in the Royal Navy — taking part in one of Britain's greatest naval victories, the Battle of Trafalgar, in 1805. When Guisse heard of the South American wars of independence he resigned from the Navy, bought his own ship, theHecate, and set sail never to return to Britain. He arrived in Buenos Aires and quickly came to an agreement with Cochrane. Guisse's role in the battles that followed was significant, in spite of frequent, bitter disagreements with Cochrane. It was his contribution to the attack on the Esmeralda that made its capture possible. After the war and in poor health, he retired to Miraflores where he married the young Limenian, Juana Valle Riestra. But his peaceful life was short. When war broke out against Colombia in 1829 he was asked to take command of the Peruvian Navy. His fleet captured Guayaquil but he was killed by a sniper during the battle.  William Miller, the British hero in the JUNIN battle. President José de la Riva Agüero promoted Miller to General of Brigade and, when Simón Bolívar arrived, he was promoted to Chief of a cavalry unit that included Argentines and Chileans who had arrived with San Martín, in addition to many Peruvians and Colombians. At the Battle of Junín his cavalry was largely responsible for the defeat of the Spanish and at the Battle of Ayacucho his initiative in launching an attack at a critical moment, without waiting for Sucre's orders, was decisive in securing victory. During these wars Miller was wounded twenty two times, and after his death the autopsy revealed he had carried two bullets in his liver for 40 years. He created the Hussars of the Peruvian Legion who, after turning the course of the Battle of Junín in favour of the revolutionaries, were renamed the "Hussars of Junín". These same Hussars remain in charge of the guard at the Peruvian Palace of Government in Lima. Thomas Cochrane Admiral Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, 1st Marquess of Maranhão, GCB, ODM (14 December 1775 – 31 October 1860), styled Lord Cochrane between 1778 and 1831,[1][2] was a senior British naval flag officer and radical politician. He was a daring and successful captain of the Napoleonic Wars, leading the French to nickname him Le Loup des Mers ('The Sea Wolf' or 'The Wolf of the Seas'). He was dismissed from the Royal Navy in 1814, following a conviction for fraud on the Stock Exchange and he then served in the rebel navies of Chile, Brazil and Greece during their respective wars of independence. In 1832, he was pardoned and reinstated in the Royal Navy with the rank of Rear Admiral of the Blue. After several further promotions, he died in 1860 with the rank of Admiral of the Red, and the honorary title of Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom. Chilean Navy   A painting of the Capture of Valdivia in the Chilean naval and maritime museum Cochrane left the UK accompanied by Lady Cochrane and their two children, he reached Valparaiso on 28 November 1818. On 11 December 1818, at the request of Chilean leader Bernardo O'Higgins, Cochrane became a Chilean citizen, was appointed Vice Admiral, and took command of the Chilean Navy in Chile's war of independence against Spain. He was the first Vice Admiral of Chile.[51](p37) Cochrane reorganized the Chilean navy, introducing British naval customs. He took command in the frigate O'Higgins and blockaded and raided the coasts of Peru as he had those of France and Spain. On his own initiative he organized and led the capture of Valdivia, despite only having 300 men and two ships to deploy against seven large forts. However, he failed in his attempt to capture the Chiloé Archipelago for Chile. In 1820, O'Higgins ordered him to convoy the Liberation Army of General Jose de San Martin to Peru, blockade the coast and support the campaign for independence. Later, forces under Cochrane's personal command cut out and captured the frigate Esmeralda, the most powerful Spanish ship in South America. All this led to Peruvian independence, which O'Higgins considered indispensable to Chile's independence and security. Cochrane's victories in the Pacific were spectacular and important but the euphoria was almost immediately marred by accusations that he had been plotted against by subordinates and treated with contempt and denied adequate financial reward by his superiors. It is clear from the evidence that none of these accusations is true and that the root of the problem lay in Cochrane's own suspicious and uneasy personality.[52] Loose words of Katty resulted in a story that Cochrane have made plans to free Napoleon from his exile on Saint Helena and make him ruler of a unified South American state, a non-sense because Charles, the envoy, was killed two months before his "departure to Europe".[53] Cochrane left the service of the Chilean Navy on 29 November 1822. Chilean naval vessels named after Lord Cochrane The Chilean Navy has named five ships Cochrane or Almirante Cochrane (Admiral Cochrane) in his honour: The first, Almirante Cochrane, was a famous battery ship that fought in the War of the Pacific (1879–1884). The second Almirante Cochrane was a dreadnought battleship laid down in Britain in 1913. The Royal Navy acquired the unfinished ship in 1917, converting her into to the carrierHMS Eagle (1918). The third ship, Cochrane, was a Fletcher-class destroyer, the former USS Rooks (DD-804), commissioned into the Chilean Navy in 1962 and scrapped in 1983. The fourth ship, Almirante Cochrane, was a County-class destroyer, the former HMS Antrim (D18), which the Chilean Navy acquired in 1984 and decommissioned in 2006. The fifth and current ship to bear the name, Almirante Cochrane (FF-05), is a Type 23 frigate, the former HMS Norfolk (F230), which the Chilean Navy commissioned in 2006. Brazilian Navy Brazil was fighting its own war of independence against Portugal. Excepting Montevideo (in today Uruguay, then Cisplatina), along the 1822, the southern provinces fell under the control of the patriots led by the Prince Regent, later Emperor Pedro I, but Portugal still controlled some north important capitals, with major garrisons and naval bases like Belém do Pará,Salvador da Bahia and São Luís do Maranhão. Coat of arms of the Marquess of Maranhão.[54] Cochrane took command of the Brazilian Navy on 21 March 1823 and its flagship, the 'Pedro I'. He blockaded the Portuguese in Bahia, confronted them at the Battle of May 4, and forced them to evacuate the province in a vast convoy of ships which Cochrane's men attacked as they crossed the Atlantic. Cochrane then sailed to Maranhão (then called Maranham) on his own initiative and bluffed the garrison into surrender by claiming that a vast (and mythical) Brazilian fleet and army were over the horizon. He then sent a subordinate, Captain John Pascoe Grenfell, to Belem do Pará to use the same bluff and extract a Portuguese surrender. As a result of Cochrane's efforts, Brazil was now totally de facto independent and free from any Portuguese troops. On his return to Rio de Janeiro, the Emperor Pedro I rewarded him by making him the Marquess of Maranhão (Marquês do Maranhão) in the Empire of Brazil in 1824. He was also awarded an accompanying coat of arms. Although many suggested that the Brazilian title was not hereditary, the descendants of Lord Dundonald preserved the title among themselves.[55] Unfortunately, as in Chile, Cochrane's joy at these successes was rapidly replaced by quarrels over pay and prize money and a totally imaginary accusation that the Brazilian authorities were plotting against him.[56] In mid- 1824, Cochrane sailed north with a squadron to assist the Brazilian army, under General Francisco Lima e Silva, suppress a republican rebellion in the state of Pernambuco which had begun to spread to Maranhão and other northern states. The rebellion was rapidly extinguished. Cochrane then proceeded to Maranhão where he took over the administration and demanded the payment of a vast sum of prize money which he claimed was owing to himself and the squadron as a result of the recapture of the province in 1823.[57] He took all money from the public funds and sacked all merchant ships anchored in São Luís do Maranhão.[58] Then, defying orders to return to Rio de Janeiro, Cochrane transferred to a captured Brazilian frigate, left Brazil on 10 November 1825 and returned to Britain. Battle of Boyacá 7 August, 1819  Battle of Boyacá Part of Bolivar in New Granada, Venezuelan War of Independence Painting of the Battle of Boyaca, which resulted in the independence of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama from Spain. Exhibited in the Federal Palace, Caracas, Venezuela. Date August 7, 1819 Location Boyacá, Colombia Result Decisive Republican victory Belligerents  Independentist army *Foreign volunteers  British Legions  Spain Hispanic Americanroyalists Commanders and leaders  General-in-ChiefSimón Antonio Bolívar.  Brigade GeneralFrancisco de Paula Santander.  Brigade General Jose Antonio Anzoátegui.  Brigade GeneralCarlos Soublette  Colonel José María Barreiro .  Colonel Francisco Jiménez .  Colonel Sebastián Díaz Execution of Spanish officers Strength 3430 2940 colombian-venezuelan loyalist soldiers Casualties and losses 13 dead, 53 injured. over 100 casualties, 150 injured and 1600 prisoners. The Battle of Boyacá in Colombia, then known as New Granada, was the battle in which Colombia acquired its definitive independence from Spanish Monarchy, although fighting with royalist forces would continue for years. Brigadier Generals Francisco de Paula Santander and José Antonio Anzoátegui led a combined republican army of Colombians and Venezuelans, complemented by the British Legion, to defeat in two hours a Royalist Colombian-Venezuelan forces led by Spanish Colonels José María Barreiro and Francisco Jiménez. Simón Bolívar credited the victory to the British Legion declaring that "those soldier liberators are the men who deserve these laurels" when offered laurels after the victory. The battle occurred 150 km from Bogotá in the Andes Mountains, in a place known as Casa de Teja, close to a bridge over the Teatinos River and 3 roads heading to Samaca, Motavita and Tunja, an area which is now part of the Boyacá Department. The battle On August 7, 1819, after Bolívar secured a narrow victory at Vargas Swamp Battle, both armies headed towards Bogotá, which was lightly defended. The capture of the capital in the hands of the Patriot Army would effectively cut off the advance of the republican army and give the strategic initiative to its opponents. At 6:00 a.m., the Spanish forces departed from Motavita towards Casa de Teja, a distance of only 25 km which the Spaniards completed in 7 hours 30 minutes, at an average speed of 18 minutes per kilometer. At 10:00 a.m. General Santander's forces departed from Tunja toward Casa de Piedra and the road to Bogota. The Patriot forces completed the 16 km in 4 hours (at an average rate of 15 minutes per kilometer). The Republican forces split in two: the vanguard reached Casa de Teja at 1:30 p.m., while the rearguard stopped a kilometer and a half behind to get some rest. Shortly before 2:00 p.m., Capitan Andres Ibarra and his forces spotted Casa de Teja and the vanguard of the Republican Army. The Spaniards spotted him too, and Coronel Sebastian Dias, chief of the vanguard of the Spanish army ordered to follow and engage what he believed was only a small observation force. They returned and General Santander ordered Lieutenant Coronel Paris to attack the Republican forces. The Spanish vanguard crossed a strategic bridge over the Teatinos River and took attack positions there. Meanwhile, the full force of the Patriot army under Santander had reached Casa de Piedra. The Spanish rearguard was still several meters behind, so General Anzoátegui ordered to block the way between the vanguard and the rearguard of the Spanish forces. The rearguard, outnumbered, retreated to a small hill close to Casa de Piedra. Simón Bolívar's forces arrived from Papia, after the Vargas Swamp battle. He ordered a flank attack on the Spanish rearguard: battalions Barcelona and Bravos de Paez were to attack on the right side while the Britanica and Rifles legion attacked on the left. The enemy assumed battle positions: in the center were three artillery pieces surrounded by royal battalions 12 and 22, and on the wings, cavalry units. Outnumbered, the Spanish rear guard began to retreat without any clear direction. Therefore, Bolívar ordered lancers units to attack the center of the Republican infantry, while a full cavalry squadron ran away from the battle via the road towards Samaca. Bareiro attempted to break the blockage of the Patriot forces and rendezvous with the Spanish vanguard but heavy enemy fire forced him and his forces to surrender. Meanwhile, one kilometer and a half behind Casa de Piedra, the Patriot vanguard managed to ford the river and was approaching the rear of the Republican vanguard force. Once it reached them, the vanguard forces engaged in battle, while the rearguard attempted to cross the river by force, using bayonets. The Spanish forces fled, leaving on the bridge their leader, Coronel Juan Taira. As the assembly of enemy prisoners began, the battle was over shortly after 4:00 p.m. At least 1,600 troops and several of the Spanish commanders, including Barreiro himself, were captured at the end of the battle. New Granada's liberation was assured by this victory, which left the road to Bogotá and the city itself practically undefended, as the survivors headed towards other locations. After the battle, Santander and Anzoátegui were promoted to Divisional General. On the orders of Santander, Coronel Barreiro and 38 more were executed in Bogotá on October 11, 1819. The bridge in question, el Puente de Boyacá, is no longer in use but it has been maintained as a symbol of the Independence of South America. The final defeat of Royal forces in the New Kingdom of Granada and the weakening of the rest of the forces in all America. The royalist understand that the patriots were worthy of respect for their courage and heroism. The end of Spanish control over the American provinces, with the escape of viceroy Juan de Samano. The following freedom of all provinces in the New Kingdom. The creation of Gran Colombia. The start of an autonomous government in the former Spanish provinces. The independence of Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and the creation of Bolivia. Viceroy Juan de Samano was informed of the defeat and manage to escape and flee to Spain, which brought to an end the reign of the Spanish Empire in northern Latin America. In commemoration of this battle, August 7 is a national holiday in Colombia. On this date every 4 years the elected President of Colombia is proclaimed in the Casa de Nariño. Taking advantage of this date, the Colombian capital, Bogotá, start the usual celebrations in commemoration of the birth of the city, on August 6, 1538. Battle of Junín August 6, 1824 Battle of Junín Part of the Peruvian War of Independence Battle of Junín by Martín Tovar y Tovar. Oil on canvas. Date August 6, 1824 Location Junín Region Result Independist victory Belligerents Independist army Royalist army Commanders and leaders Simón Bolívar Antonio José de Sucre José de Canterac Strength 1,000 1,300 Casualties and losses 150 250 The Battle of Junín was a military engagement of the Peruvian War of Independence, fought in the highlands of the Junín Regionon August 6, 1824. The preceding February the royalists had regained control of Lima, and having regrouped in Trujillo, Simón Bolívar in June led his rebel forces south to confront the Spanish under Field Marshal José de Canterac. The two armies met on the plains of Junín, northwest of the Jauja Valley. Bolivar (with 8,000 soldiers), in a hurry to try to cut the royalist retreat (8,000 soldiers) towards Cuzco, sent out his cavalry (1,000) to delay the movement of Spanish troops out of the Junin Plain. The Spaniards sent out their cavalry (1,300) to disrupt the incoming patriot cavalry to give Canterac time to withdraw his infantry from the plain. The plain is a marshland close to the Junin lake and the patriot troops were trying to form for battle when they were struck by the charge of the Spanish cavalry and sent back in confusion. Patch awarded by officers who took part of the Peruvian Campaign in 1823-24. However, the Spanish charge missed one squadron of the Columbian Grenadiers under Felipe Braun, which managed to form and charge the Spaniard cavalry's rear. The surprise caused the Spanish cavalry to drop their weapons, turn tail and run for the protection of their infantry, which had already vacated the plain. The battle lasted about one hour, and it involved hand-to-hand cavalry clashes with lance and saber. As solely a cavalry battle, no firearms were used. About 250 royalist and 150 independentists were killed.Although in actuality this battle would qualify as little more than a skirmish, this military engagement greatly enhanced the morale of the victorious independentists, with a first win in Perú. The retreat of Canterac's troops after the defeat in Junin was relentless and defections from the Peruvian royalist troops to the patriots increased considerably. Eventually theViceroy of Peru, José de la Serna e Hinojosa, had to step in as commander of the Spanish forces to try and restore morale. Felipe Braun became the "hero of Junín". Pueblito Paisa/ Wards Corner/ Iberian American winners Wards Corner Community Coalition members at Haringey Civic Centre, Wood Green, 20th July 2011. Preparing to go into the planning meeting which subsequently voted 5-4 to reject the Grainger plan to redevelop Seven Sisters. Important events Sunday 7th August – Christian cult for Bolivia. Elephat and Castle Fusion Centre. 11:30 am. Saturday 13th August – Celebration of the Andean independence and the Pueblito Paisa victory at the Bernie Grant Centre. Tottenham. Press Award/Reino Unido divulga lista dos premiados de sua edição inaugural (Cerimônia/Show de premiação foi o dia 6 de Agosto no HILTON CANARY WHARF, em Londres) Após avaliar indicações recebidas da mídia, entidades culturais e comunitárias brasileiras, o Board de Premiação do Brazilian International Press Award/Reino Unido divulgou os premiados que deverão estar recebendo seus troféus "Newspaper Boy" dia 6 de agosto, no Salão de Eventos do Hilton Canary Wharf, em Londres. Os premiados de 2011 no Reino Unido são: - ABEP - Michael Mohallem (Associação de Pesquisadores Acadêmicos) - Natan Barreto (Literatura) - Henrique Goldman (Cineasta) - Fernanda Franco & Rose Chamberlain (Festival de Cinema Brasileiro) - StoneCrabs Theatre Company - Franko Figueiredo  (Teatro) - Paul Heritage (Promoção da Cultura Brasileira) - Naz Vidas - José Resinente (Ação Social & Humanitária) - ABRIR - Brazilian Association of Educational Projects in the UK    (Promoção do Idioma Português) - Else R. P. Vieira (Promoção da Cultura Brasileira) - BREACC - Brazilian Educational and Cultural Center of the UK   (Educação, Cultura & Idioma) - London School of Samba - Gui Tavares (Promoção de Música Brasileira) - Marcus Fumagalli (Mídia Comunitária Brasileira) - London School of Capoeira - Banda Pé de Jurema (Música Popular Brasileira) Premios Especiais - Projeto Taru (Arte, Educação & Consciência Ecológica) - Marcelo Bratke (Pianista) - Ana Maria Pacheco (Artista Plastica) - Marcos Valle (Músico) - Homenagem aos veículos de comunicação comunitários brasileiros na Europa A noite de premiação do Press Award/Reino Unido, foi o ponto culminante da programação conjunta com o Seminário FOCUS-BRAZIL,  tuvo um show especial do homenageado MARCOS VALLE.  Reconhecidos pelo Ministério das Relações Exteriores entre os mais relevantes eventos culturais brasileiros no exterior, o Brazilian International PRESS AWARD e o FOCUS-BRAZIL iniciam por Londres, com a realização do FOCUS-BRAZIL & PRESS AWARD REINO UNIDO 2011, o processo de internacionalização que pretende integrar diversas comunidades emigrantes brasileiras no mundo. O FOCUS-BRAZIL foi nos dias 5 & 6 de agosto, com os painéis do Seminário FOCUS-BRAZIL ocupando a faixa horária das 9 da manhã às 17:00 horas. A cerimônia/show do PRESS AWARD será realizada no dia 6, sábado, a partir das 19:30 horas. Ambos eventos acontecerom no HILTON CANARY WHARF HOTEL. Os eventos  FOCUS-BRAZIL & PRESS AWARD REINO UNIDO 2011 dão sequência a uma tradição que há 14 anos tem o apoio da TAM Airlines, TV Globo Internacional, Banco do Brasil eMinistério das Relações Exteriores. Para maiores informações sobre os eventos, consulte os sites oficiais FOCUS BRAZIL - www.focusbrazil.com Brazilian International PRESS AWARD - www.pressaward.com A edição inaugural  do FOCUS-BRAZIL EUROPA – Congresso Internacional de Cultura, Mídia & Comunidade Brasileira, marcada para os dias 5 e 6 de agosto de 2011 no Hilton Canary Wharf, em Londres foi marcada por importantes debates acerca de temas atuais que interessam e afetam aos cerca de 3 milhões de brasileiros que residem no exterior. Entre os eventos incluídos na programação estuvo encontro dos representantes eleitos para o CRBE (Conselho de Representantes Brasileiros no Exterior), contando com as presenças do Embaixador Eduardo Gradilone, atual Subsecretário do Itamaraty para as Comunidades Brasileiras no Exterior e do Presidente do CRBE, educador Carlos Shinoda, do Japão. Os quatro titulares do CRBE eleitos pela Europa – Carlos Mellinger (Inglaterra), Laércio Silva (Inglaterra), Mônica Pereira (Bélgica) e Flávio Carvalho (Espanha) – também são presenças confirmadas. O Painel do CRBE foi o de abertura do evento, dia 5, das 9 da manhã ao meio dia, contando com a presença do Cônsul-Geral do Brasil em Londres, Embaixador Marcus de Vincenzi e outras autoridades. O primeiro dia do evento foi completado das 14 às 17 horas com o Painel Promoção das Artes e Cultura do Brasil, que tuvo como convidados especiais o legendário músico brasileiro de carreira internacional Marcos Valle e  a atriz, produtora e autora Edel Holz, multipremiada por suas iniciativas de teatro para comunidades brasileiras nos Estados Unidos. Ao lado dela estuvo o produtor e diretor teatral Franko Figueiredo (StoneCrabs Theatre Company-Londres) e a professora Else R. P. Vieira, da Queen Mary University of London. No sábado, das 9 da manhã ao meio-dia foi realizado o Painel de Promoção da Língua Portuguesa, para o qual virão especialmente, dos Estados Unidos, a educadora Anete Arslanian, atual Presidente da American Organization of Teachers of Portuguese com a presença da Presidente da Associação de escolas Brasileiras do Japão, Maria Yoshida. Das 14:00 às 16:00 foi o Painel de Negócios mediado por Marcelo Spínola, diretor de distribuição da TV Globo Internacional. Como convidados contaremos com a presença de José Sales, diretor da TAM Airline Europa-Asia-África, Paulo Guimarães, diretor geral do Banco do Brasil em Londres, Daniel Costa Fernandes, chefe do setor comercial da Embaixada do Brasil em Londres e Sergio Gullo, Câmara de Comercio Brasileira da Grã- Bretanha. Das 16:15 às 18:30 foi a vez do Painel da Mídia Comunitária Brasileira na Europa, que pela primeira vez na História da emigração brasileira, tuvo em Londres representantes dos mais relevantes veículos de comunicação comunitários brasileiros da Europa. Além do convidado especial, Zigomar Vuelma, Presidente da Associação Brasileira de Imprensa Internacional, tuvo os seguintes representantes dos veículos:  Vicente Lou (Leros Magazine-Inglaterra), Marcelo Mortimer (Brazilian Post-Inglaterra), Tânia Spittle (Brasil ETC-Europa), Carolina Beal (Brazilian News-Inglaterra), Régis Querino (Real Magazine-Inglaterra), Juliano Zappia (Vamos!-Inglaterra), Márcia Curvo(brasileirosnaholanda.com–Holanda), Mauro Cardoso (Brazuca Magazine-França), Bianca Donatangelo (Guia Acibra-Alemanha),Frazão Araújo (BrasilcomZ-Espanha), Angela Piqui (ABC Classificados-Bélgica), Erika Zidko (Aqui Notícias-Itália), Luiz Mendez (Aqui Milão-Itália), Luis Malheiro (Brasil Plus-Suíça), Ricardo Silva (Revista News Brazil-Irlanda). Também estão confirmadas as presenças deAntônio e Ana Martins (Acontece.com e Acontece Magazine– Estados Unidos), Fernanda Cirino (Gazeta News–Estados Unidos),Fernando Vasconcellos (BRTVonline.com) e Arthur Muranaga (Grupo IPC–Japão). Patrocinado pela TAM Airlines, Banco do Brasil e TV Globo Internacional, o  FOCUS-BRAZIL EUROPA-Congresso Internacional de Cultura, Mídia & Comunidade Brasileira, tem apoio do Ministério das Relações Exteriores e do Consulado Geral do Brasil em Londres. Instituições brasileiras do Reino Unido que apóiam o evento: Casa do Brasil em Londres, ABRAS, ABRIR e BREACC. O evento tem parcerias internacionais com a  American Organization of Teachers of Portuguese, ABI-Internacional/Brazilian International Press Association e com o Projeto Minha Pátria, Minha Língua.         EVENTOS POR EL DIA DE BOLIVIA:  DOMINGO 7 DE AGOSTO: ACCION DE GRACIAS POR BOLIVIA. COMUNIDAD CRISTIANA DE LONDRES. FUSION CENTRE. 22 ELEPHANT RD. SE 1. SABADO 13 DE AGOSTO. CELEBRACION DE LOS DIAS NACIONALES DE COLOMBIA, PERU, BOLIVIA Y ECUADOR Y DE LA GRAN VICTORIA DE LA COMUNIDAD LATIA E IBEROAMERICANA DEL PUEBLITO PAISA. 7 PM. BERNIE GRANT CENTRE.  Town Hall Approach Road, N15 4RX.  http://www.berniegrantcentre.co.uk/p7.html ACTIVIDADES PARA CONMEMORAR EL 205 ANIVERSARIO DEL DESEMBARCO DEL LIBERTADOR MIRANDA EN  SURAMERICA (3-13 DE AGOSTO 1806) Y LOS ANIVERSARIOS DE LAS INDEPENDENCIAS DE BAHIA BRASIL (2 DE JULIO), VENEZUELA (5 DE JULIO), ARGENTINA (9 DE JULIO), COLOMBIA (20 DE JULIO),  PERU (28 DE JULIO), BOLIVIA (6 DE AGOSTO) Y ECUADOR (10 DE AGOSTO) Y LA VICTORIA DEL PUEBLITO PAISA SABADO 13 DE AGOSTO. 7PM. BERNIE GRANT CENTRE. TOTTENHAM HIGH RD. N15 4RX.     SABADO 13 DE AGOSTO VEN A  LA GRAN FIESTA PARA CELEBRAR LA VICTORIA DEL PUEBLITO PAISA         Nuevo centro comercial latino e iberoamericano en Londres Excelente ubicación. Al frente de un Retail Centre donde están las más prestigiosas firmas británicas (Next, Argos, PC World, ASDA, etc.) y estacionamiento gratuito por 3 horas. A 1 minuto del metro, tren y estación de buses de Tottenham Hale. Contactarse al 07404703933   Friends of Fair Deal Discount Card We are very pleased to introduce the 'Friends of Fair Deal Discount Card' for use in shops in and around Seven Sisters. The card enables you to enjoy generous discounts offered by participating local businesses. You can get a card of your own when you spend £15 or more at Fair Deal Supermarket, and you can sign up to the Newsletter as well at the same time, and this way stay informed on all the new developments happening over the coming weeks and months. By using local shops, you keep your hard earned money in the local area, which allows the possibility for that money to stay in the area for longer. When there's more money around it means more ideas have the space and resources to emerge and develop, and at least have the possibility of blossoming. Thus making a more vibrant and exciting community to be in.   Legión británica Se le dio nombre de Legión Británica, o legiones británicas, a un grupo de unidades militares formadas por voluntarios extranjeros, que lucharon bajo el mando del general Simón Bolívar en la guerra de independencia de Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú y Bolivia. Sus unidades formaron parte de los ejércitos de la desaparecida Gran Colombia. Desde el año 1817, y en los cinco años siguientes, el número de contrataciones y enganches en los puertos de Inglaterra exceden de los seis mil hombres,3 sin embargo desde las 53 naves que formaron sus expediciones se afirma que combatieron unos cinco mil trescientos soldados. Muchos de ellos eran veteranos del Reino Unido, incluyendo a Irlanda, y también se contaba con algunos veteranos alemanes al servicio de Inglaterra. El principal delegado para efectuar el reclutamiento de los voluntarios en Londres fue Luis López Méndez.4 La mayor parte de ellos habían participado en las guerras napoleónicas o la guerra británico estadounidense de 1812. Los voluntarios en la Legión Británica estaban motivados por una combinación tanto de motivos políticos y del beneficio de mercenarios. Bolívar por su parte esperaba elevar la moral de las tropas patriotas e incorporar más profesión militar en sus ejércitos. Las Legiones Británicas estuvieron compuestas por la 1ª Legión Británica, por la 2ª Legión Británica, y la Legión Irlandesa. Formaron los batallones de infantería Albión, Carabobo y Rifles, regimientos de caballería como los Húsares, aunque sus miembros también combatieron encuadrados en otras unidades americanas. Las unidades de voluntarios extranjeros usaron sus propias enseñas, como la Union Jack5 para los ingleses, o en el caso de la Legión irlandesa una bandera verde con el clàrsach, símbolo de Irlanda.6 7 Las Legiones Británicas formaron una parte importante del ejército de Bolívar, quien las acreditó en la batalla de Boyacá proclamando "Esos Soldados liberadores son los hombres que merecen Estos laureles" , y en la batalla de Carabobo donde los describió como "Los Salvadores de mi Nación". Sin embargo, a pesar de que algunos historiadores aclaman que ellos fueron posteriormente casi olvidados por los países en los que lucharon; hay muchas demostraciones de que esto es un craso error ya que inclusive hay batallones en los ejércitos suramericanos que con orgullo llevan sus nombres. Fuerzas de la las expediciones británicas que zarparon de Londres desde fines de 1817 a 1819 y llegaron a la Gran Colombia: Cuando Simón Bolívar organizó la fuerza que debía acompañarlo durante Campaña Libertadora de Nueva Granada, incluyó a la Legión Británica. El Coronel James Rooke estuvo al mando de 160 ó 200 hombres, quienes lucharon por la Independencia de la Gran Colombia.4 Después de la Batalla del Pantano de Vargas el coronel Manrique, Jefe de Estado Mayor, dijo: «Todos los cuerpos del ejército se han distinguido, pero merecen una mención particular, (…) las Compañías Británicas. A las que su Excelencia el Presidente de la República, les ha concedido la “Estrella de los Libertadores”, en premio de su constancia y de su valor».4 El coronel James Rooke fue herido por una bala en el brazo izquierdo. Éste tuvo que ser amputado y cuando se lo desprendieron, lo alzó con su mano derecha y gritó en castellano: «Viva la Patria!», El cirujano le preguntó en inglés: «Cuál Patria?, Irlanda o Inglaterra?», Rook meneó negativamente la cabeza y contestó: «La que me ha de dar sepultura». El Coronel Rooke murió días después de la amputación. La viuda del coronel Rooke, Anna Rooke, disfrutó de una pensión vitalicia y recibió una suma de dinero como indemnización.4 LOS DOCUMENTOS SOBRE LA LEGION BRITANICA HAN SIDO TOMADOS DE LA WIKIPEDIA