Government Junta of Chile (1810)

Government Junta of the Kingdom of Chile (September 18, 1810), also known as the First Government Junta, was the organ established to rule Chile following the deposition and imprisonment of King Ferdinand VII by Napoleon Bonaparte.

Background

The year 1810 was very complicated politically for the Spanish empire in general, and for Chile in particular. Two years before the King had been imprisoned in France, and replaced by Joseph Bonaparte. In Chile, the Royal Governor Francisco Antonio García Carrasco had been forced to resign due to his ineptitude and corruption, specially his participation in the smuggling scandal involving the frigate "Scorpion" and had been replaced by Mateo de Toro y Zambrano.

After Mateo de Toro y Zambrano took over as Royal Governor, he was convinced by popular demand (of the local aristocracy, since the majority of the populace was royalist) to call an open meeting of the leading citizens to decide the political future of the colony. He convened such a meeting for the morning of September 18, 1810. The discussion ended with the establishment of the First Government Junta of Chile. In the discussion triumphed the idea of a local independent government as opposed to the monarchist idea of submitting themselves to the control of the Regency Council. Nonetheless, this idea of "independence" must not be taken in the modern sense. This junta never intended to sever the relationship with the monarchy, but was only taking advantage of the possibility to assert local rule.

Members

History

The Junta started by formally declaring its allegiance to King Ferdinand VII. It then proceeded to take some concrete measures: it created a militia for the defense of the kingdom, decreed freedom of trade with all nations that were allied to Spain or neutrals, and in order to increase its representativity, ordered the convocatory of a National Congress. It was the earliest step in the Chilean struggle for independence.

After the natural death of the president, Mateo de Toro y Zambrano on February 26, 1811, he was replaced by Juan Martínez de Rozas, due to the illness of the Vice President, Bishop José Martínez de Aldunate, (who was to die on April 8, 1811). In turn, Martinez de Rozas was replaced on April 2, 1811 by Fernando Márquez de la Plata as a consequence of the Figueroa mutiny, a failed monarchist revolt in Santiago.

The Junta lasted until July 4, 1811, when it was replaced by the National Congress, and later by the Second Junta.

Additional information

ee also

*Chilean Independence
*Figueroa mutiny
*History of Chile
*List of Government Juntas of Chile
*List of Heads of State

External links

* [http://www.auroradechile.cl/ La Aurora de Chile, First Chilean Newspaper (1812) online.] es icon
* [http://www.monografias.com/trabajos15/historia-chilena/historia-chilena2.shtml#CABILDO Monograph] es icon