Free and Independent State of Cundinamarca

Free and Independent State of Cundinamarca
*Estado Libre e Independiente de Cundinamarca*
Free and Independent State of Cundinamarca Estado Libre e Independiente de Cundinamarca
1810–1815
	Flag Coat of arms
Capital	Bogotá
Common languages	Spanish
Religion	Roman Catholic
Government	Constitutional monarchy; republic
President
• 1811	Jorge Tadeo Lozano
• 1812-1813	Antonio Nariño
History
• Established	1810
• Disestablished	1815
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Province of Bogotá
United Provinces of New Granada
Province of Bogotá
Today part of	Colombia

See also: Cundinamarca State

The Free and Independent State of Cundinamarca (Spanish: Estado Libre e Independiente de Cundinamarca) was a rebel state in colonial Colombia, replacing the Spanish colonial Viceroyalty of New Granada from 1810 to 1815. It was part of the Foolish Fatherland (Patria Boba) period at the beginning of the Spanish American wars of independence. Its capital was Bogotá, the former capital of the Viceroyalty of New Granada.

Following the occupation of Spain during the Napoleonic Wars, Cundinamarca was one of the states (such as United Provinces of South America (Argentina) and the First Republic of Venezuela) who replaced its viceregal government with a local junta in the name of the deposed Ferdinand VII. The first president was Jorge Tadeo Lozano, but Antonio Nariño forced his resignation and replaced him. Cundinamarca was initially conceived as an enclave of the Spanish kingdom, but full independence was declared in 1813.

While Cundinamarca, including the old capital and administrative machinery, advocated the establishment of a strong centralist government, other parts of the old viceroyalty banded together as the United Provinces of New Granada to support a federal structure. The region remained embroiled in a largely static civil war until the defeat of a Cundinamarcan expedition against Quito allowed General Simón Bolívar of the United Provinces to force terms in December 1814. By mid-1815, however, Pablo Morillo arrived with a large Spanish force and returned the region to submission to the since-restored Ferdinand.