Ecuador separates from Gran Colombia

Background. The disintegration of Gran Colombia's government and political structures was precipitated amid the separations of Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela in 1830 and 1831. Bolívar called a constituent assembly on 20 March 1830 in an effort to avoid dissolution, but then resigned the presidency on 4 May 1830, leaving Domingo Caicedo as interim president. The Southern District, with its capital in Quito, separated from the federation on 13 May 1830; the Central District did not recognize this act.

Political Establishment. On 13 May 1830, the Southern District declared its independence, forming the State of Ecuador. Juan José Flores was named supreme chief on this date. The first Ecuadorian constitution was promulgated in September 1830, uniting the departments of Azuay, Guayaquil, and Ecuador into a single independent body. Flores was subsequently named provisional president in August 1830.

Territorial Disputes. The Central District of Gran Colombia, known as Cundinamarca or New Granada with its capital in Bogotá, did not recognize the separation of the Southern District on 13 May 1830. After the separation, Flores laid claim to the territory that had belonged to the Real Audiencia of Quito, also referred to as the Presidencia of Quito. Fruitless negotiations continued between the governments of Bogotá and Quito; the later war of 1832 and the Treaty of Pasto fall outside the scope of this separation event.