BOYAC, BATTLE OF

(Aug. 7, 1819), in the wars for Latin-American independence, encounter near Bogot that resulted in a victory by South American insurgents over Spanish forces. It freed New Granada (Colombia and Venezuela) from Spanish control. A rebel army of about 3,000 men under generals Simn Bolvar and Francisco de Paula Santander first surprised and defeated the Spaniards in preliminary engagements at Gmeza (July 12) and the Vargas River (July 25) and captured Tunja on August 5. In the final encounter at Boyac, Santander cut off the Spanish advance force near a bridge over the Boyac River, while Bolvar's troops attacked the main force a half mile away, capturing about 1,800 prisoners and the Spanish commander. Bolvar then captured Bogot on August 10 and was hailed as the liberator of New Granada. He set up a provisional government with Santander as vice president and acting head. Bolvar then went to La Angostura in Venezuela, where he announced his scheme to establish the Republic of Gran Colombia.