1822

1822 was a year marked by political upheaval and liberal reform in various parts of the world, reflecting the broader era of independence movements in the Americas and rising constitutionalism in Europe. The year sits within a period of transition as old colonial and absolutist structures faced challenges from reformist and nationalist movements.

In South America, Brazil declared independence from Portugal on September 7, 1822, when Prince Dom Pedro I proclaimed the independence at Sao Paulo, leading to the creation of the Empire of Brazil. In Europe and the Mediterranean, the Greek War of Independence continued, and Greece formally proclaimed its independence from the Ottoman Empire on January 1, 1822, a status that would be recognized progressively by the great powers in the ensuing years.

In the northern Andes, Ecuador’s drive for independence intensified with the Battle of Pichincha near Quito on May 24, 1822, a decisive victory that secured Ecuador’s separation from Spain and aligned the region with the Gran Colombia project. In Portugal, liberal forces produced the Constitution of 1822, part of the wave of constitutional reforms following the 1820 liberal revolution.

Overall, 1822 exemplified a shift toward new political orders—independence movements, constitutional governments, and republican or constitutional experiments—that would shape the political landscape of the Americas and parts of Europe in the subsequent decades.