Spanish reconquest of Latin America begins

Background. Following the restoration of King Ferdinand VII in 1814, Spain prepared its largest expeditionary force for the Americas. The United Provinces of New Granada had declared independence in 1811 but were weakened by the civil war against Cundinamarca. Morillo was appointed Captain General of Venezuela to lead this force, which departed Cádiz in February 1815, initially landing in Venezuela before focusing on the reconquest of New Granada.

Expeditionary Force. The expeditionary army, known as the Ejército Expedicionario de Costa Firme, consisted of approximately 10,400 troops, many veterans of the Peninsular War, transported by a fleet of warships and troopships. Morillo secretly received orders to change the mission's destination from Montevideo to Costa Firme to suppress rebellions in New Granada and Venezuela, a decision communicated to troops only after departure.

Siege of Cartagena. The siege of Cartagena de Indias was a 105-day operation by combined naval and ground forces under Morillo. The city, defended by Republican leaders Manuel del Castillo y Rada and José Francisco Bermúdez, was cut off from supplies. The fortified city fell on December 6, 1815, with streets littered with corpses, marking a decisive early victory for the Spanish reconquest.