republic · South America

Protectorate of Peru

1821 CE – 1822 CE · capital Lima

The provisional government of San Martín in Lima, which declared Peru's independence while royalist armies still held the highlands.

Origins

José de San Martín landed his Liberating Expedition, transported from Chile by Lord Cochrane, on the Peruvian coast in 1820. When the viceroy abandoned Lima in July 1821, San Martín entered the city, proclaimed independence on 28 July and on 3 August took the title of Protector of Peru.

Rule and society

San Martín governed with Bernardo de Monteagudo as his chief minister. The Protectorate abolished the Indian tribute and forced labour, declared that children of enslaved mothers would be born free, founded the National Library and created the Order of the Sun. Monteagudo's harsh treatment of Spaniards made him unpopular. Royalist forces still held Cusco and the highlands, and San Martín favoured a constitutional monarchy for Peru.

Decline and legacy

After his meeting with Bolívar at Guayaquil in July 1822, San Martín resigned before the first Peruvian Congress in September 1822 and left Peru. Power passed to a governing junta of the Republic of Peru.

Lineage

Viceroyalty of Peru 1542 CE – 1824 CEProtectorate of PeruRepublic of Peru 1821 CE – present

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Protectorate of Peru. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/protectorate-of-peru
MLA
“Protectorate of Peru.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/protectorate-of-peru. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Protectorate of Peru.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/protectorate-of-peru.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Protectorate of Peru’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/protectorate-of-peru (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻