The Founders of Independence Society (), officially the Meritorious Society " Founders of Independence, Victors on May 2, 1866 and Qualified Defenders of the Homeland" (), is a

Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...

vian civic-patriotic association headquartered in

Lima Lima ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...

, the first of its kind in the country. The society currently brings together its members in activities that worship the memory of the heroes and founding fathers of Peru's independence. The society has the Virgin of the

Immaculate Conception The Immaculate Conception is the doctrine that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception. It is one of the four Mariology, Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church. Debated by medieval theologians, it was not def ...

as its Protector and

Saint Rose of Lima Rose of Lima, TOSD (born Isabel Flores de Oliva; 20 April 1586 24 August 1617) (, ), was a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic in Lima, Peru, Spanish Empire, who became known for both her life of severe penance and her care of the pover ...

as its Patroness. The company is an entity attached to the

Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

History

Once the operations aimed at consolidating the

Independence of Peru The Peruvian War of Independence () was a series of military conflicts in Peru from 1809 to 1826 that resulted in the country's independence from the Spanish Empire. Part of the broader Spanish American wars of independence, it led to the dis ...

were concluded, many of the Peruvians who participated in those days were left in the greatest distress, since the fiscal coffers did not have enough money to solve their needs. A group of ex-combatants formed, among others, by Colonels Casimiro Negrón de la Fuente, José Domingo Espinar, Juan Basilio Cortegana and Canon Juan Sánchez achieved that on September 28, 1857, 140 heroes of independence signed in the Chapter House of the Convent of San Francisco the installation document in which the then Humane Society of the Founders of Independence () is established. The then President of the Republic, Ramon Castilla, was appointed as its president and General

Juan Francisco de Vidal Juan Francisco de Vidal La Hoz (April 2, 1800 in Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru – September 23, 1863 in Lima) served as the 8th President of Peru The president of Peru (), officially the constitutional president of the Republic of Peru (), is ...

as its Active President. After the Peruvian victory at the

Battle of Callao The Battle of Callao (, as it is known in South America) occurred on May 2, 1866, between a Spanish Empire, Spanish fleet under the command of Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez and the fortified battery emplacements of the Peruvian port city of Cal ...

, President

Mariano Ignacio Prado Mariano Ignacio Prado Ochoa (18 December 1825 – 5 May 1901) was a Peruvian army general who served as the 17th (1865 - 1868) and 21st (1876 - 1879) President of Peru. Biography Born in Huánuco on 18 December 1825, he studied in Huánuco and ...

ordered that the name be extended in order to facilitate the entry of the combattants into the association. Once the

War of the Pacific The War of the Pacific (), also known by War of the Pacific#Etymology, multiple other names, was a war between Chile and a Treaty of Defensive Alliance (Bolivia–Peru), Bolivian–Peruvian alliance from 1879 to 1884. Fought over Atacama Desert ...

was over, and Peruvian territory was no longer

occupied ' ( Norwegian: ') is a Norwegian political thriller TV series that premiered on TV2 on 5 October 2015. Based on an original idea by Jo Nesbø, the series is co-created with Karianne Lund and Erik Skjoldbjærg. Season 2 premiered on 10 October ...

, new institutions emerged with similar purposes. With the objective of unifying these institutions, by decree of November 2, 1937, all of them were incorporated into the society, adopting the name it has today. On September 5, 1917, the

Congress of Peru The Congress of the Republic of Peru () is the unicameral body that assumes legislative power in Peru. Due to broadly interpreted impeachment wording in the Constitution of Peru, the President of Peru can be removed by Congress without cause, ...

, chaired by , promulgated Law No. 2432, recognising the society as an official institution; with the right to be represented in civic ceremonies and to occupy, within protocol precedence, a place after the General Commanders of the Armed Institutes. After the negotiations with President

Augusto B. Leguía Augusto Bernardino Leguía y Salcedo (19 February 1863 – 6 February 1932) was a Peruvian politician who served as President of Peru from 1908 to 1912 and from 1919 to 1930, the latter term known as the " Oncenio" after its eleven-year length. ...

, the transfer to the society of the building constructed for the residence of

Andrés Avelino Cáceres Andrés Avelino Cáceres Dorregaray (10 November 1836 – 10 October 1923) was a Peruvian politician and general who served as the President of Peru, from 1886 to 1890 as the 27th president, and again from 1894 to 1895 as the 30th. He is cons ...

in 1924 was obtained. The transfer of the property was completed by the month of December and was inaugurated on the occasion of the first centennial of the

battle of Ayacucho The Battle of Ayacucho (, ) was a decisive military encounter during the Peruvian War of Independence. This battle secured the independence of Peru and ensured independence for the rest of belligerent South American states. In Peru it is conside ...

Headquarters

The society currently has a headquarters located on Av. Arequipa, in the

Santa Beatriz Santa Beatriz is a neighbourhood in Lima District. It is the southernmost area of the district. It limits to the north, with the historic centre of Lima; to the east, with La Victoria; to the south, with Lince; and to the west, with Jesús Mar ...

neighbourhood. The building was originally built to be the residence of

, as well as a museum—the Museo de la Breña—due to his death in 1923, however, the building was transferred to the society. The institutional headquarters is the main location of the society in which solemn sessions are held annually to honour the memory of various national heroes and celebrate commemorative dates. For this purpose, the premises have a solemn session hall adorned with various paintings, busts and statues of the heroes of the

history of Peru The history of Peru spans 15 millennia, extending back through several stages of cultural development along the country's desert coastline and in the Andes mountains. Peru's coast was home to the Norte Chico civilization, the oldest civilization ...

. President

commissioned Waring & Gillow Ltd. of

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

to make the furniture, curtains, carpets and decorations for the Session Hall and the President's room at the company's headquarters. The institutional headquarters of the society was declared

Cultural heritage of Peru The cultural heritage of Peru, officially the Cultural heritage of the Nation, is the name given to the set of goods, both tangible and intangible, accumulated over time. These goods can be paleontological, archaeological, architectural, historical ...

on February 9, 1999.

List of presidents

The following is a list of associates who have served as active presidents of the institution:

References

{{reflist Organisations based in Lima Grand Crosses of the Order of the Sun of Peru Historiography of Peru

History

Headquarters

List of presidents

See also

References