Pedro Antonio Olañeta
Encyclopedia
Pedro Antonio Olañeta was born of a humble family in Biscay
and emigrated with his parents to South America in 1797. He settled in the area of Potosí
and Salta
, becoming a prosperous trader (and smuggler according to his enemies.)
When the May Revolution occurred in 1810 he sided with the royalists, and fought as an officer in campaigns against the independence leader General José Manuel de Goyeneche. He was promoted to colonel under the command of Joaquín Pezuela, then to brigadier general under Viceroy José de la Serna e Hinojosa
in 1821. After the liberal revolution in Spain under Fernando VII, Olañeta rejected the authority of La Serna and proclaimed himself "the only defender of throne and altar".
After the defeaat of the royalist troops in the Battle of Ayacucho
, Olañeta continued a hopeless resistance against Simón Bolívar
forces in the Upper Peru (today's Bolivia
). On April 2, 1825, after a desperate fight, Olañeta died in the Battle of Tumusla (some say murdered by his own troops). This battle signed the end of the independece war in Spanish America. After, the battle Antonio José de Sucre
, entered the Upper Peru and saw the creation of new nation, Bolivia
.
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
and emigrated with his parents to South America in 1797. He settled in the area of Potosí
Potosí
Potosí is a city and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is one of the highest cities in the world by elevation at a nominal . and it was the location of the Spanish colonial mint, now the National Mint of Bolivia...
and Salta
Salta
Salta is a city in northwestern Argentina and the capital city of the Salta Province. Along with its metropolitan area, it has a population of 464,678 inhabitants as of the , making it Argentina's eighth largest city.-Overview:...
, becoming a prosperous trader (and smuggler according to his enemies.)
When the May Revolution occurred in 1810 he sided with the royalists, and fought as an officer in campaigns against the independence leader General José Manuel de Goyeneche. He was promoted to colonel under the command of Joaquín Pezuela, then to brigadier general under Viceroy José de la Serna e Hinojosa
José de la Serna e Hinojosa
José de la Serna e Hinojosa, 1st Count of los Andes was a Spanish general and colonial official. He was the last Spanish viceroy of Peru to exercise effective power .-Background:...
in 1821. After the liberal revolution in Spain under Fernando VII, Olañeta rejected the authority of La Serna and proclaimed himself "the only defender of throne and altar".
After the defeaat of the royalist troops in the Battle of Ayacucho
Battle of Ayacucho
The Battle of Ayacucho was a decisive military encounter during the Peruvian War of Independence. It was the battle that sealed the independence of Peru, as well as the victory that ensured independence for the rest of South America...
, Olañeta continued a hopeless resistance against Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
forces in the Upper Peru (today's Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
). On April 2, 1825, after a desperate fight, Olañeta died in the Battle of Tumusla (some say murdered by his own troops). This battle signed the end of the independece war in Spanish America. After, the battle Antonio José de Sucre
Antonio José de Sucre
Antonio José de Sucre y Alcalá , known as the "Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho" , was a Venezuelan independence leader. Sucre was one of Simón Bolívar's closest friends, generals and statesmen.-Ancestry:...
, entered the Upper Peru and saw the creation of new nation, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
.