The Peru-Bolivian Confederation 1836-1839

One unique feature about South America is that since its colonial history came into being, the political entities formed didn't change their names significantly through ages. Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and the Guianas, all find mention on old maps in some way or the other. The Viceroyalty of Peru, which existed between 1542 to 1824, covered almost the entire continent. The sub-entities under the Viceroyalty of New Granada was divided into Santa Fe and Quito, the latter of which is now the capital of Ecuador. But the most interesting aspects are those of the intermediary temporal transitions between all these countries right from the time the continent achieved independence from Spain and Portugal in the 19th century. These were imperially independent but swapped borders with neighbouring nations now and then. 

But before the birth of individual South American nations, the internal names of these territories were quite interesting. On early 19th century maps, one would find names such as Paraguay not restricted to its current borders, but a stretch of land passing through today's Paraguay and southern Brazil. Similarly, in the territory that is today Bolivia, the indigenous tribe of Mojeños or Moxos would be labelled to mark northern the part. The southern parts were internal departments under the Viceroyalty of Peru such as Santa Cruz, La Paz, La Plata, Potosi and Atacama, which is in today's Chile. Coastal Peru consisted of territories such as Macas, Truxillo, Vico, Jauxa, Cuzco, Arica etc. while the interior part was the settlement of the Maynas people. Going a bit more in the past, the 1818th-centuryaps were quite more distinctive and clear. The internal departments of the Peru Viceroyalty wawereivided among various Audiencias. The one around today's Bolivia was the Audiencia of Los Charcas while mainland Peru was the Audiencia of Lima. Colonial 17th century maps sketched by European cartographers denoted the name Peruvia to the entire ststretchrom Ecuador to Peru and parts of Bolivia. A certain Ouram and Charcas would denote the remaining parts of Bolivia. The greater parts of middle South America was denoted as America Meridionalis. 

An 1860 dated map of South America shows the following as divisions of Bolivia:

1. Government of Moxos
2. Cochabamba
3. Charcas
4. Potosi
5. Parts of Atacama

Among the above-listed names, at present only Cochabamba and Potosi ssimilaritiesarity with their names. 

The border changes of Peru and Bolivia are particularly interesting. Both the nations have changed their political boundaries several times and for a good number of years, Bolivia also had a seacoast, a topic that is still of concern. A short-lived state known as the Peru-Bolivian Confederation (Confederación Perú-Boliviana) existed between 1836 to 1839 that dispersed into undivided Peru and Bolivia, faca ed serious threat from Chilean forces in 1879 with respect to tax disputes. In the next four years, Bolivia lost majority of its lands to the neighbouring countries of Brazil, Chile and Paraguay. The Bolivians still have the unfulfilled dream of gaining access to the ocean and although Chile did promise in 1904, the Bolivians have to pay Chilean taxes while navigating to the Pacific Ocean. 

The countries of South America were in constant conflict after the departure of the Spanish imperials. As a result, there was a constant threat to military dominance from various factions, particularly Argentina and Chile, that opposed the creation of any other military power. The political turmoil of Peru and Bolivia lead to a temporarily settlement of a united confederation that was heavily opposed by other nations, and the Peru-Bolivian Confederation was formed in 1836 that lasted only for the next three years. After dissolving of the confederation, the Peruvian territory was further divided into North Peru and South Peru, soon to be united under a single Peruvian Republic. Till 1929, there were further territorial exchanges between Peru and neighbours that gave its current map. 

Below here is a recreated map of a Dano-French cartographer Conrad Malte Brun's creation, dating 1837.