Chilean War of Independence

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (October 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Chilean War of Independence
Part of the Spanish American wars of independence
Clockwise from top left: The Battle of Rancagua (1–2 October 1814) The Battle of Maipú (5 April 1818) The Capture of Valdivia (3–4 February 1820) The Battle of San Carlos Bay Pass (11 January 1826)
Date 1812–1827 Location The Captaincy General of Chile, Araucanía, the governorates of Valdivia, Osorno and Chiloé, South Pacific of America and Neuquén Basin Result Patriots victory Territorial changes De facto Chile's independence from the Spanish Crown Chilean annexation of Valdivia and Osorno in 1820, and Chiloé in 1826
Belligerents
Patriots: Chile (Patria Vieja, until 1814) Chile (Patria Nueva, since 1817) United Provinces of the Río de la Plata Mapuche allies: Abajinos Pehuenches	Royalists: Spanish Empire Viceroyalty of Peru Captaincy General of Chile Governorate of Chiloé Mapuche allies: Arribanos Boroanos Pehuenches Costinos Huilliches
Commanders and leaders
J. M. Carrera B. O'Higgins Ramón Freire M. Blanco Encalada Thomas Cochrane Joaquín Prieto José M. Borgoño José de San Martín Antonio G. Balcarce Juan G. de las Heras	Antonio Pareja † Juan F. Sánchez Gabino Gaínza Mariano Osorio F. M. del Pont (POW) Rafael Maroto José Ordóñez (POW) Vicente Benavides  Juan M. Pico  A. de Quintanilla
Strength
Chilean Army Chilean Navy and privateers Army of the Andes Mapuche warriors	Royalist Army Spanish Navy and privateers Mapuche warriors
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Chilean War of Independence (Spanish: Guerra de la Independencia de Chile, 'War of Independence of Chile') was a military and political event that allowed the emancipation of Chile from the Spanish Monarchy, ending the colonial period and initiating the formation of an independent republic.

It developed in the context of the Spanish American Wars of independence, a military and political process that began after the formation of self-government juntas in the Spanish-American colonies, in response to the capture of King Ferdinand VII of Spain by Napoleonic forces in 1808. The First Government Junta of Chile was formed for that purpose. But then, it began to gradually radicalize, which caused a military struggle between Patriots, who were looking for a definitive separation from the Spanish Crown; and Royalists, who sought to maintain unity with her.

Traditionally, Chilean historiography covers this period between the establishment of the First Government Junta of Chile (September 18, 1810) and the resignation of Bernardo O'Higgins as Supreme Director of Chile (January 28, 1823). It is also subdivided into three stages: the Patria Vieja (1810–1814), Reconquista (1814–1817) and the Patria Nueva (1817–1823). Although the war itself began in 1812, the year in which the first hostile actions took place, and lasted until the end of the 1820s, when the last royalists forces were defeated in the Chiloé Archipelago in 1826 and in Araucanía in 1827.

A declaration of independence was officially issued by Chile on February 12, 1818 and formally recognized by Spain in 1844, when full diplomatic relations were established.^[1]