Spanish American wars of independence

The Spanish American wars of independence were a series of conflicts that took place across the Spanish Empire during the early 19th century. The struggles in both hemispheres began shortly after the outbreak of the Peninsular War, part of the broader Napoleonic Wars, and were fought between Royalists, who favoured rule from a unitary Spanish monarchy, and Patriots, who supported autonomous constitutional monarchies or independent republics. Simon Bolivar was a leading figure of the wars, instituting a policy known as the war to the death during his Admirable Campaign in Venezuela.