First Cry of Independence in the Villa de Los Santos

The First Cry of Independence of the Villa de Los Santos is known as the historical event that occurred on November 10, 1821 in Panama, in which a popular launch against the Spanish colonial government occurred in The Villa de Los Santos in the Province of Los Santos. This event triggered a series of Cries for Independence in several Panamanian cities.

Background

Among the events that motivated the Independence of the Villa de Los Santos and, later, the Independence of Panama, the following can be mentioned:

• The commercial restrictions imposed by the Spanish monarchy, which were seen as the origin of the serious economic situation of the Isthmus.
• The continued abuse of colonial rulers, which aggravated the situation.
• The French Revolution, which with the Bastille Take imposed the proclamation of the rights of man in relation to the equality and fraternity.
• The Independence of the United States which successfully established a free government in America.
• The rise of leaders such as Francisco Miranda, Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín, among others, liberators of several nations from South America.
• The triumph of Mexico in its War of Independence, together with the subsequent annexation of the Central American provinces.

However, the immediate precedent was a decision by the President of the Court of Quito, Juan de la Cruz Mourgeon y Achet, who entrusted the government of the Isthmus to the Panamanian José de Fábrega, a supporter of independence ideas.

The Miscellaneous

La Miscelánea was the first circulation newspaper in the entire History of Panama, and decisively marked the Independence of Panama in 1821. The printing press officially arrived in Panama in 1820 and began the circulation of the first newspaper in March 1821, in which the political opinions of various revolutionary figures began to be disseminated, who went against the Spanish regime established in Panama; which is why the owners of this newspaper were persecuted and imprisoned to silence their independence ideas.

In July 1821, Viceroy Juan de Sámano, a staunch persecutor of all those who had ideas of independence in Panama, died, and Juan de la Cruz Murgeon succeeded him, marking an era in which several patriotic societies were founded and establishes freedom of the press, a circumstance that is taken advantage of by several popular leaders to publicize different publications that fueled the uprising as soon as possible. One of the main leaders of these societies was Francisco Gómez Miró, who published a manifesto in which he promoted the Independence of Panama from the Spanish Empire, which caused great excitement in the society of the Villa de Los Santos and led to the first feat. independence of Panama.

Beginning of the Independence Movement of Panama from Spain of 1821

Juan de la Cruz Mourgeon y Achet, had a proposal from the Spanish Crown; If he managed to regain control of several rebellious colonies he would be named viceroy. Due to this, he made a trip to Ecuador with the purpose of forming a battalion and from this geographical point to attack the Granadans. He made his trip in October 1821, while he was absent, he entrusted command of the government of the Isthmus of Panama to the Panamanian military man José de Fábrega, who at that time was serving as governor of Veraguas. This incident was decisive in the independence claims of the Villa de Los Santos.

Declaration of Independence of La Villa de los Santos

After proclaiming the Villa de Los Santos an independent city, the Open Council whose president was Julián Chávez, invited all its members, in addition to the councilors, to deliberate about the choice of Don Segundo de Villarreal as the head of the towns. new liberating forces of the Villa de los Santos, after which the motion presented confirming his position was unanimously confirmed. This decision took into account Segundo de Villarreal's insurmountable position of liberating the Villa de Los Santos at any price, even exposing his own life. This news of the Cry of Independence of the Villa de Los Santos spread throughout Panamanian territory and was supported by the towns of Las Tablas, Macaracas, Las Minas, Parita, Santa María, Ocú, Penonomé, Pocrí, Pesé, Natá de the Knights, San Francisco de Veraguas and Alanje, in the province of Chiriquí.

Repercussions

The most important consequences of the First Cry of Independence of the Villa de Los Santos was the emancipation of other inland towns such as Penonomé, Natá de los Caballeros, etc. The most important impact of this event was the Independence of Panama, achieved definitively on November 28, 1821.

News

Currently in Panama, the celebration of November 10 has its epicenter in La Villa de Los Santos, however, this date is celebrated throughout the country, especially in the districts of San Miguelito, La Chorrera, Bugaba and in the Juan Díaz township in Panama City. November 10 is celebrated with large parades through the main streets of the country, such as public institutions, universities and schools and with the participation of independent musical bands, in addition to the particularity of carrying carts pulled by oxen, horses or bulls, accompanied by tunas of drums, empolleradas and montunos, reminding us of facets of country life.

Santeña flag

Since the founding of Tierra Firme, the region has used different symbols. The first flag that flew in the region was the Cross of Burgundy: in gules a cross in a knotted cross on a silver background that represents the cross that served as a torture to Saint Andrew during his martyrdom. This being also the insignia under which America was conquered. The Cross of Burgundy flew during centuries of Pax Hispánica from Florida and California to Patagonia.

Starting in 1785, in the reign of Charles IV (1788-1808), the General Ordinances of the Naval Navy of March 8, 1793 extended the use of the red flag to the maritime plazas, castles and defenses of the coasts and define it as the Royal Flag.

In 1821, the flag of the free city of the town of Los Santos was approved, based on the chromatic composition created in 1801 by the Venezuelan General Francisco de Miranda. There are many theories about the origin of the colors of this flag, among them, the one that states that it is based on the colors of the Columbus family coat of arms before the discovery of America.

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  Colon family shield

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  Miranda Flag described in "Colombeia", 1801.