Old Fatherland (Spanish: [ˈpatɾja ˈβjexa], lit.'Patria Vieja') refers to a time period in the History of Chile occurring between the First Junta of the Government (September 18, 1810) and the Disaster of Rancagua (October 1, 1814). In this period, Chilean measures were taken for the imprisonment of Fernando VII of Spain by Napoleon and this started the governmental organization of the Kingdom of Chile, which swore fidelity to Ferdinand VII. [1]

Kingdom of Chile
Reino de Chile
Patria Vieja
1810–1814
Motto: Post tenebras lux (Latin)
"Light After Darkness"
Territories of the Captaincy General of Chile
Territories of the Captaincy General of Chile
CapitalSantiago de Chile
GovernmentProvisional government
King 
• 1810-1814
Ferdinand VII
(de jure)
President 
• 1810-1811
Mateo de Toro y Zambrano
• 1811-1813
José Miguel Carrera
• 1813-1814
José Miguel Infante
LegislatureNational Congress
Historical eraDecolonization of the Americas
18 September 1810
4 July 1811
4 September 1811
3 May 1814
2 October 1814
Population
• Estimate
823,685 (1813 Census)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Captaincy General of Chile
Reconquest (Chile)
Today part ofChile

This period was characterized by the transformation from a movement of temporary autonomy to one of total independence. Two things that stood out during this period were the political prominence of the Carrera brothers, especially José Miguel Carrera and the military campaigns led by Bernardo O'Higgins as General. (Battle of Membrillar, Battle of Yerbas Buenas, and Battle of El Roble).

La Casa Colorada, residence of Governor Mateo de Toro y Zambrano (Currently the Museo de Santiago)

During this time a Government Junta of Chile as well as a National Congress were organized to administer the country during the imprisonment of the king. The Congress passed a law decreeing Liberty of the Womb, which stated that all children of slaves born on Chilean soil from that point onwards would be free. In 1812, the first constitutional decree was passed, which agreed to recognize the king if he accepted certain constitutional regulations.


References

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  1. ^ Rivera, Sergio (1983). A Short History of Chile. Editorial Universitaria. pp. 81–83. ISBN 9789561117617. Retrieved 28 March 2022.