Crossing of the Andes

Crossing of the Andes
Part of the Spanish American wars of independence
Generals José de San Martín (left) and Bernardo O'Higgins (right) crossing the Andes.
Date January 19 to February 13, 1817 Location From Argentina to Chile Result Patriot forces successfully enter Chile
Belligerents
Army of the Andes	Spanish Royalists
Commanders and leaders
José de San Martín Miguel Estanislao Soler Bernardo O'Higgins	Francisco Marcó del Pont Mariano Osorio

The Crossing of the Andes (Spanish: Cruce de los Andes) was one of the most important feats in the Argentine and Chilean wars of independence, in which a combined army of Argentine soldiers and Chilean exiles invaded Chile leading to Chile's liberation from Spanish rule. The crossing of the Andes was a major step in the strategy devised by José de San Martín to defeat the royalist forces at their stronghold of Lima, Viceroyalty of Perú, and secure the Spanish American independence movements.

Setting out from Mendoza -then part of the Province of Cuyo- in January 1817, their goal was to enter royalist-held Chile without being noticed, through unexpected paths, so as to attack the royalist forces by surprise. The ultimate objective was the liberation of Chile from Spanish rule with Argentine forces. Led by José de San Martín, the crossing took 21 days.

The idea of crossing the Andes was already developed by secret lodges seeking the independence of South America, and was part of the Maitland Plan designed by Thomas Maitland. San Martín learned of it during his brief time in Britain, before sailing to South America. After becoming aware of the difficulty of attacking the royalist stronghold of Lima across Upper Peru, he decided to proceed with such a plan.

...
Wikipedia