Royalist (Spanish American independence)

Royalist
Realistas
Leaders
Political leaderFerdinand VII of Spain
Constitutional monarchyCortes of Cádiz; Trienio Liberal
Absolute monarchyOminous Decade
Dates of operation18101829
AllegianceSpanish Empire
MotivesPreservation of the territorial integrity of Spain
Allies Russian Empire[1]
OpponentsPatriot Governments
Coat of arms of the Spanish Monarchy (1761–1843)
Flag of the Spanish Navy, Castles and Fortresses

The royalists were the people of Hispanic America (mostly from native and indigenous peoples)[2][3] and Europeans that fought to preserve the integrity of the Spanish monarchy during the Spanish American wars of independence.

In the early years of the conflict, when King Ferdinand VII was captive in France, royalists supported the authority in the Americas of the Supreme Central Junta of Spain and the Indies and the Cortes of Cádiz that ruled in the King's name during the Peninsular War. During the Trienio Liberal in 1820, after the restoration of Ferdinand VII in 1814, the royalists were split between Absolutists, those that supported his insistence to rule under traditional law, and liberals, who sought to reinstate the reforms enacted by the Cortes of Cádiz.

  1. ^ William Spence Robertson (1941), RUSSIA AND THE EMANCIPATION OF SPANISH AMERICA, 1816–1826
  2. ^ Luqui Lagleyze, Julio (1995). El Ejército Realista en la guerra de Independencia.
  3. ^ "Indigenous, African-descended, and mestizo (mixed-race caste) soldiers fought in patriot and royalist armies alike".Jason McGraw (12 March 2018). "RACE, OR THE LAST COLONIAL STRUGGLE IN LATIN AMERICA".