THE BATTLE OF PICHINCHA

On May 24, 1822, South American rebel forces under

the command of General Antonio José de Sucre and
Spanish forces led by Melchor Aymerich clashed on
the slopes of Pichincha Volcano, within sight of the
city of Quito, Ecuador. The battle was a huge victory
for the rebels, destroying once and for all Spanish
power in the former Royal Audience of Quito.

Background

To the north, Simón Bolívar had liberated the Viceroyalty of New Granada (Colombia, Venezuela,
Panama, part of Ecuador) in 1819, and to the south, José de San Martínhad liberated Argentina and Chile
and was moving on Peru. The last major strongholds for royalist forces on the continent were in Peru
and around Quito

First Two Attempts

In late 1820, the leaders of the independence movement in Guayaquil organized a small, poorly-
organized army and set out to capture Quito. Although they captured the strategic city of Cuenca on the
way, they were defeated by Spanish forces at the Battle of Huachi. In 1821, Bolívar sent his most trusted
military commander, Antonio José de Sucre, to Guayaquil to organize a second attempt.

March on Quito

By January 1822, Sucre was ready to try again. His new army took a different tactic, swinging through
the southern highlands on its way to Quito.

Cuenca was captured again, preventing communication between Quito and Lima. Sucre’s rag-tag army
of approximately 1,700 consisted of a number of Ecuadorians, Colombians sent by Bolívar, a troop of
British (mainly Scots and Irish), Spanish who had switched sides, and even some French. In February,
they were reinforced by 1,300 Peruvians, Chileans and Argentines sent by San Martín. By May, they
had reached the city of Latacunga, less than 100 kilometers south of Quito.

Slopes of the Volcano

Aymerich was well aware of the army bearing down on him, and he placed his strongest forces in
defensive positions along the approach to Quito. Sucre did not want to lead his men straight into the
teeth of well-fortified enemy positions, so he decided to go around them and attack from the rear. This
involved marching his men partway up Cotopaxi volcano and around Spanish positions. It worked: he
was able to get into the valleys behind Quito.

The Battle of Pichincha

On the night of May 23, Sucre ordered his men to move on Quito. He wanted them to take the high
ground of Pichincha volcano, which overlooks the city. A position on Pichincha would have been
difficult to assault, and Aymerich sent his royal army out to meet him.