Former South American republic (182230).
Formerly the Viceroyalty of New Granada , it included roughly the modern nations of Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Gran Colombia was formed in 1819 during the war for independence from Spain, with its capital at Bogotá . Revolutionary leader Simón Bolívar was its creator and first president. Gran Colombia had a vigorous existence during the war, becoming independent in 1822, but it was dissolved with the secession of Venezuela and Ecuador in 1830.