In 1800, Spanish America was, as it had been for almost 300 years, firmly under the control of the rapacious Spanish throne. Native populations had been decimated, and the survivors thoroughly cowed. Spanish Americans, descended from native Spanish settlers, were considered second-class citizens. South America was used as a dumping ground for over-priced Spanish goods, and a collection of mines and plantations to be exploited. Punitive laws and trade restrictions were imposed by representatives of the throne, each attempting to outdo each other in terms of ruthlessness.
Despite all of this, dissent was largely non-existent. Independence was a term only fancifully bandied about by exiled Venezuelans and Argentines in the comfort of the intellectual salons in London and Paris. For the common man, it was not even worth dreaming about. The Spanish yoke was as firmly in place as ever, and Spanish control was rarely questioned, let alone challenged outright.
However, within 25 years, through dogged determination and sheer force of will, two men had altered the course of South American history forever. Facing the might of the Spanish armies, and against all the odds, Simón Bolívar in the North, and José de San Martín in the South liberated half a continent apiece. As their armies approached one another, no one knew what was going to happen. The remnants of the Spanish armies still occupied several mountain strongholds, and neither man had sufficient surviving soldiers to finish them off. Time was against them. The fragile political alliances they had left behind them were beginning to fall apart. But both had fought long and brave campaigns and would not readily take orders from anyone – even a fellow patriot.
They met in Guayaquil, a small port town just over the Peruvian border in southern Ecuador, to plan the final phase in the liberation of a continent. Amidst much speculation and intrigue the two men entered the City Hall in Guayaquil to parlay, alone. No historical record of their meeting was made. History can only speculate on their conversation.
What is known is that San Martín handed over complete control of his armies to Bolívar, and retired from public life to become an anonymous farmer in northern France, leaving Bolívar with the glory of winning the final battle.
What isn’t known is why.
Historical Background