The Battle of Boyacá , which is celebrated every August 7 in Colombia , was a warlike confrontation that sealed the Independence of our nation. It has been one of the largest combats ever fought on Colombian soil and was under the command of Simón Bolívar. Given the importance and significance of this event for history, August 7 is a holiday in Colombia.
How was the Battle of Boyacá?
The famous Battle of Boyacá was fought on August 7, 1819 , at the Boyacá Bridge , located 14 kilometers from Tunja and 110 kilometers from Bogotá. This confrontation between the Creole Army and the Royalist, established the independence triumph that the country had traced on July 20, 1810.
This battle was the result and final point of a series of struggles waged by the Liberation Campaign; led by Simón Bolívar, as a resistance towards the Spanish reconquest in 1819.
Thus, after several battles such as Gámeza (July 11) and Pantano de Vargas (June 25), on August 7, the Liberation Campaign, led by Simón Bolívar, Francisco de Paula Santander and José Antonio Anzoátegui , assaulted the royalist army led by Colonel José María Barreiro.
This combat lasted about 6 hours and ended with the victory of the liberating troops and the surrender of the Spanish, who were taken as prisoners.
Today, the Boyacá Bridge , where this battle took place, is one of the most emblematic places in Colombian history. Every year, on August 7, a series of patriotic commemorations are held in this place to remember this event and pay tribute to all the combatants.