General Andrés de Santa Cruz revolts against…
February 1823 CE
General Andrés de Santa Cruz revolts against the Peruvian Congress on February 26, 1823, and forces it to elect José de la Riva Agüero as President.
At the time of the landing of the rebel army of José de San Martín on the Peruvian coast, Santa Cruz had been commander of militia forces in the region of Huarochirí.
A mestizo who claims descent from the royal Incas, Santa Cruz had fought against the independentists in the Battle of Pasco (December 6, 1820), but the royalists were defeated and Santa Cruz captured.
Taken to San Martin's headquarters at Huaura, he had decided to switch sides and joined the Patriot Army (January 8, 1821).
Santa Cruz had ascended rapidly, reaching the rank of Colonel later that year and that of Brigade General in 1822 for leading Peruvian troops at the Battle of Pichincha (May 24, 1822).