Creation of the Republic of Bolivia. Liberation of Upper Peru — the final chord of the War of Independence

Bolivia’s independence was won as a result of years of war, in which the liberation campaign of the Simon Bolivar and Antonio José Sucre armies was the final chord. The right of Upper Peru to an independent state existence was won not only by fighting Spanish troops, but also in a complex diplomatic confrontation with the claims of neighboring countries to the territory. The last period of the War of Independence was characterized by the complete collapse of all colonial structures, including the army. As a result of internal struggles within the royalist ranks in Upper Peru, an internecine “house war” began that dealt a mortal blow to colonial rule in Upper Peru. This article covers the events leading up to Bolivia’s declaration of independence, in which the liberators Bolivar and Sucre played a major role. The positions of the leaders of the liberation armies, the local elite, and the governments of neighboring countries are analyzed. As a result, Bolivia became an independent country, despite the opposition of Bolivar, the Peruvian authorities and part of the local elite.