Thursday, October 9, 2014

Independence of Guayaquil - October 9th


To commemorate the October 9th, the anniversary of the independence of this noble city of Guayaquil, it is necessary to pay tribute of gratitude to those heroes who gave us an example of courage and patriotism.

After all, they gave us the most precious inheritance for man, his freedom.


In September 1820, young members of the Venezuelan military battalion Numancia: Letamendi Miguel, Luis Urdaneta y León Febres-Cordero arrive at the port en route to Venezuela.

José de Antepara, a leader of the freedom movement, recognizes them as supporters of freedom and committed to the cause, they suggest contacting officials Grenadier Reserve, Peruvian battalion quartered in Guayaquil.

The only way to do it secretly is to gather in a society’s party.


Isabelita Morlás, young daughter of their host, José Villamil, the treasurer of the council, suggests her mother, Doña Villamil Garaycoa, might organize a ball.

This gives the required excuse for the meeting to happen. 

On Sunday, October 1st by night, Villamil and his wife offered a party at their home in the Malecon Avenue.

They are known to fraternize with the Numancia and the Grenadiers.


Without attracting the attention of the others, Antepara secretly meets with supporters of the emancipation.

This gives the opportunity to form contacts with the people in Guayaquil. 

There are twenty total of conspirators; the leader of them is Villamil.

- This is the Forge of Vulcan! Antepara forecast.


There are concerns about the cavalry squadron and artillery brigade in nearby Daule.

The participants feared that Vivero royal governor of Guayaquil has discovered the conspiracy.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday conspirators continue their work of recruitment.

They finally decide to make the revolution immediately, citing as one watchword sloganGuayaquil for the Fatherland!”.


On Sunday, October 8 in the morning the governor, alarmed by the rumors, holds a Board of War and ordered the Grenadiers to patrol the streets of the city.

Meanwhile in the house Villamil the patriots finalize preparations.

They decide on October 9th at 2 am as the key time of the events.

Vivero is vigilant at barracks until late Sunday night but as he finds nothing, finally new retires to rest.


Officers Gregorio Escobedo, Hilario Alvarez, Damien Nájera and José Peña had joined the movement.

At dawn on Monday, October 9th Nájera commander seizes Torres Valdivia chief of artillery and seizes the keys

Meanwhile Febres Cordero with fifty grenadiers, surprised the watch officer of the artillery, capturing the troops.


Antepara and Urdaneta, with 35 men, vanquish the squadron commander of Daule who dies in the fight.

The rest of the men support the freedom cause.

Colonel García del Barrio, the governor Viveror, Colonel Elizalde and Friar Querejasú are all taken prisioners.

The boats patrolling the river were also imprisoned along with their commander Villalba.

By the morning the people were overflowing the streets and squares to know the facts and to hail freedom.

The council meeting proclaimed independence and José Joaquín de Olmedo was named Political Head and Gregorio Escobedo  the Chief Military Commander.

Both were sworn immediately to the office.


So this is the almost bloodless independence of Guayaquil, which opened definitive emancipation of the former Viceroyalty of Quito and made possible the victory at Pichincha.


23 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed reading this!! The pictures really help you "visualize" what you are talking about! Great post :)

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  2. I had no idea that Ecuador was so urban! My dad and brother have done humanitarian work there but they never mentioned all the beautiful architecture- stunning!

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    1. It really depends on the part of the country where you are. Cities like Guayaquil, Quito and Cuenca have a very long history and the buildings and the architecture is amazing. The rest of the country has sudden suprises but they are sprinkled around, not as urban. Tena, where I live currently, for example, is a very new town and doesn't have the colonial buildings like the bigger cities. The feeling here is quite different.

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  3. Great post - love finding out about a country I don't know very much about

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  4. It is always good to learn more, I didn't know any of this information x

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  5. Thanks for sharing this historical information. Your pictures had me captivated.

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  6. Its always interesting to read about the history of different places. your post is very informative and the pictures are lovely.

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  7. Thanks for sharing this information! My husband would love to read this. He's a big history buff. The pictures look so beautiful.

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  8. I find your posts really interesting. Ecuador is such a uniquely different country from anywhere I have ever experienced, it's fascinating to read more about it.

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  9. What a beautiful country. Thanks for the history. I would never look it up on my own as I am so busy. Nice to take this break and learn.

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  10. OH my, what beautiful photos. I would love to travel the world one day and find beautiful places like this.

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  11. What a really interesting and informative post - thank you for sharing. The photos are just stunning.

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  12. Thank you so much for sharing this story. Your pictures are fantastic and I really feel like I was there. I learned a lot about the culture and I love it! Hopefully someday I can visit here. Thanks!

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  13. Ecuador looks like such a beautiful country. I hope to go there one day:)

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  14. Guayaquil looks lovely. Your posts are planting a seed of desire in my heart to visit this land.

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  15. Great post, it is lovely to read about a country I know little about through someone elses eyes x

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  16. A fascinating history lesson, thank you.

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  17. Compelling reading and well chosen photos.

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  18. Your beautiful pictures make the story so much more evocative. A great post.

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  19. I would love to visit there someday, it's all so gorgeous :)

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  20. That tall ship is stunning and your country is so beautiful. I would love to visit

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  21. Such beautiful architecture and this post really brings the history alive.

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