HOW WAS THE INDEPENDENCE OF CUENCA? - HISTORY - 2025

The independence of Cuenca was a revolutionary process through which several citizens took up arms against the Spanish military forces.

One of the main promoters of independence was Lieutenant Tomás Ordóñez, who with a bayonet wound to his leg, walked the streets of the city encouraging people to rise up in civil disobedience.

Antonio José de Sucre, key man in the independence of Cuenca

Cuenca was under the control of the Spanish crown for about 300 years. Finally, in 1820, the aforementioned confrontation occurs, which culminated in the proclamation of the Republic of Cuenca on November 3, 1820.

Although this date is considered as the official date of Cuenca's independence, the Spanish forces regained power until they were defeated again in 1822.

Important events in the independence of Cuenca

On October 9, 1820, the Guayaquil area achieved its independence. It is believed that this event was the one that had the most impact and prompted Cuenca to fight for its own freedom, realizing that it was possible for a local community to free itself from the tyranny of the Spanish Empire.

The outbreak of independence in Cuenca was planned during the last days of October, when several politicians and military personnel, including Mayor José María Vázquez de Noboa and Tomás Ordóñez himself, met in secret in order to start a council and swear the independence of the province.

Independence process

Several of the first people who expressed ideas of freedom in the different public squares of Cuenca were repressed.

It was then that the revolutionary groups went directly to Governor Antonio Díaz Cruzado, to whom they stated that given the recent independence of Guayaquil, a similar process could take place in Cuenca.

Although the governor accepted these conditions and offered his support to the patriots, his intentions were discovered by the Spanish authorities, who immediately decided to arrest him and send him to Quito.

With the governor in prison, it was the mayor who on November 3, 1820 led the rebel groups to storm one of the military stations to stock up on weapons and fight.

After this, and under the leadership of Tomás Ordóñez, the citizens marched to the Plaza de San Sebastián, accompanied by many people who supported independence.

Spanish defeat

After seeing that they did not have enough weapons or the support of the people, on November 4, 1820, the Spanish authorities defeated in combat decided to hand over their weapons and leave the government to the inhabitants themselves.

In this way the independence of Cuenca was consummated, although this would last little more than a month. In revenge for what happened in November, on December 20, forces commanded by Colonel Francisco González razed the city, killing more than 200 people.

Definitive independence

In February 1822 the Spanish army was again defeated, the arrival of General Antonio José de Sucre caused the flight of the infantry forces from Spain, and finally on February 21 Cuenca declared its independence again, this time definitive.

References

1. chap. Tomás Ordoñez (nd). Retrieved on December 19, 2017, from Enciclopedia del Ecuador.
2. Independence of Cuenca (October 31, 2009). Retrieved on December 19, 2017, from Pato Miller.
3. J. Valera (January 21, 2015). Independence of Cuenca. Retrieved on December 19, 2017, from L Historia.
4. Independence of Cuenca (nd). Retrieved on December 19, 2017, from Ephemerides.
5. Christian Andrade (October 27, 2015). Independence of Cuenca. Retrieved on December 19, 2017, from Without fears ec.