1819 – 2019: 200 years of Colombia

The battle of Boyacá is seen as the end of the independence fights and start of 200 years of Colombia

Colombia has had a rollercoaster 200 years of history. Check out some key moments…


The case of the vase

On 20 July, 1810 – nine years before full independence – local Criollos (people of Spanish heritage born in the Americas) used an insult over a flower vase as a reason to riot against the ruling Spaniards.

This forced the Viceroy to agree to limited independence.

The rest, as they say, is history.

1819

Exactly 200 years ago, on August 7, the Battle of Boyacá took place – seen as the unofficial end of Spanish rule.

1819 – 1831

Gran Colombia

This was an expansive territory that stretched from southern Central America to northern South America. The name is used to help historians distinguish between “The Republic of Colombia,” which was the territory’s official name and is now Colombia’s official name.

1830

First military coup, by Rafael Urdaneta.

1832-1858

Nueva Granada

This was a republic consisting of present-day Colombia and Panama. It was formed after Gran Colombia broke apart, following the secession of parts of Venezuela and Ecuador. The territory also included parts of Costa Rica, Peru, Nicaragua, and Brazil.

1851

Slavery abolished.

1854

Second Military coup, by José Melo.

1863

Renamed Estados Unidos de Colombia.

1867

The Universidad Nacional is founded.

1886-1900

Regeneración

A series of reforms implemented by then-president, Rafael Núñez, which called for a powerful, centralised government rather than state supremacy, and restored the influence of the Roman Catholic Church.

1886

Current name República de Colombia agreed upon.

1899

La guerra de mil días

Civil War of a thousand days kicks off.

1903

Panamá leaves.

1927

National Coffee Federation formed.

1928

Outrage at the ‘banana massacre’.

1932

Leticía Incident confirms Colombia’s stake in the Amazon.

1948

Colombian football finally takes off with the first national championship.

1948

Gaitán is shot, triggering El Bogotazo and later La Violencia.

1948 – 1953

La Violencia

Civil war fought between liberals and conservatives – campesinos, most notably – throughout the country which resulted in at least  200,000 deaths.

1951

Census registers more than  10,000,000 people in the country.

1953

Third military coup, by Gustavo Rojas Pinilla.

1954

Television arrives in Colombia with a rendition of the anthem by the Symphonic Orchestra.

1957

The Frente Nacional is agreed (also women voted for first time).

1958-1974

Frente Nacional

16-years of coalition government in which liberals and conservatives alternated four-year presidential terms. Agreed between Alberto Lleras Camargo (Liberal leader) and Laureano Gómez (Conservative leader).

1961

Manuel Marulanda Vélez, also known as Tirofijo

Manuel Marulanda Vélez founds the Republic of Marquetalia.

1964

Marulanda Vélez escapes to the hills after a military attack and founds the FARC.

1964-2016

FARC Conflict

Armed conflict lasting more than 50 years. Over 220,000 people have died, including an estimated 45,000 children.

1973

Census registers more than  20,000,000 people.

1982

Gabriel García Márquez receives Literature Nobel.

1984

Cartagena placed on UNESCO world heritage list.

1985

Attack on the Palacio de Justicía.

1991

The current constitution is ratified.

1993

Pablo Escobar is shot on a Medellín rooftop.

1994

Footballer Andrés Escobar is shot after conceding an own goal against the USA.

1998

Attempt at peace talks with the FARC.

2000

María Isabel Urrutia

María Isabel Urrutia takes first Olympic gold in weightlifting in Sydney.

2005

Census registers more than 40,000,000 people.

2007

Café de Colombia is recognised as a protected label by the EU.

2008

The falsos positivos scandal came to light.

2016

Peace is signed!

Find here a downloadable version of Colombia’s history to hang up on your wall.


Oli Pritchard: