The 1826 constitution of the Republic of Peru, also known as the "For-Life Constitution" ( es, Constitución Vitalicia) was a

constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of Legal entity, entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed. When ...

adopted by the

Republic of Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

at the request of

Simón Bolívar Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (24 July 1783 – 17 December 1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and B ...

. In lieu of a formal meeting of the

Constituent Assembly A constituent assembly (also known as a constitutional convention, constitutional congress, or constitutional assembly) is a body assembled for the purpose of drafting or revising a constitution. Members of a constituent assembly may be elected b ...

of Peru, the constitution was adopted by the electoral college and promulgated on 8 December 1826 by a council of government headed by Peruvian general

Andrés de Santa Cruz Andrés de Santa Cruz y Calahumana (; 30 November 1792 – 25 September 1865) was a Bolivian general and politician who served as interim president of Peru in 1827, the interim president of Peru from 1836 to 1838 and the sixth president of B ...

. Bolívar was sworn in as President of Peru on 7 December, on the second anniversary of the Battle of Ayacucho. The 1826 constitution was a modified version of the , which Bolívar had designed and controversially created a for-life presidency. Bolívar designed that constitution after the liberation of Bolivia from the Spanish and secured its ratification there earlier in 1826, then sought to secure its adoption in Peru and

Gran Colombia Gran Colombia (, "Great Colombia"), or Greater Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia (Spanish: ''República de Colombia''), was a state that encompassed much of northern South America and part of southern Central America from 1819 to 18 ...

. With the collapse of his governments in Bolivia and Peru in 1827, however, these constitutions were repealed and Bolívar was deposed as president in both nations. The For-Life Constitution was repealed in Peru on 27 January 1827 and was thus in force for 49 days.

Background

By early 1825, Spanish resistance to Peruvian independence had been reduced to the command of general

José Ramón Rodil José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced differently in each language: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced ...

and the garrison of

Real Felipe Fortress The Real Felipe Fortress was built to defend the main Peruvian port and the city of Lima from pirates and corsairs during colonial times. The fortress was pivotal in the 1866 naval battle between a Spanish fleet sent to South America to "reclaim" ...

, in

Callao Callao () is a Peruvian seaside city and Regions of Peru, region on the Pacific Ocean in the Lima metropolitan area. Callao is Peru's chief seaport and home to its main airport, Jorge Chávez International Airport. Callao municipality consists o ...

, on the coast outside of

Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...

. Peruvians expected that with the end of the

Peruvian War of Independence The Peruvian War of Independence ( es, Guerra de Independencia del Perú, links=no) consisted in a series of military conflicts in Peru beginning with viceroy Abascal military victories in the south frontier in 1809, in La Paz revolution an ...

, the Venezuelan general who had led the republican forces as

dictator A dictator is a political leader who possesses absolute power. A dictatorship is a state ruled by one dictator or by a small clique. The word originated as the title of a Roman dictator elected by the Roman Senate to rule the republic in times ...

of Peru, would disband his government and restore the 1823 constitution. When the

Congress of Peru The Congress of the Republic of Peru ( es, Congreso de la República) is the unicameral body that assumes legislative power in Peru. Congress' composition is established by Chapter I of Title IV of the Constitution of Peru. Congress is compose ...

met on 22 February 1825, however, it extended Bolívar's dictatorship for another year and disbanded itself. On 20 May 1825, Bolívar issued a degree in

Arequipa Arequipa (; Aymara and qu, Ariqipa) is a city and capital of province and the eponymous department of Peru. It is the seat of the Constitutional Court of Peru and often dubbed the "legal capital of Peru". It is the second most populated city ...

calling for a congress to meet in Lima on 10 February 1826. The delegates that would make up that congress were to be elected according to the 1823 constitution. Despite pressure from the pro-Bolívar government, some anti-Bolívar delegates were elected, such as the representatives of Arequipa,

Francisco Xavier de Luna Pizarro Francisco Xavier de Luna Pizarro (November 3, 1780 – February 2, 1855) was a Peruvian priest, politician and lawyer. He served as Archbishop of Lima from 1846 to 1855, deputy for Cusco and Arequipa, and President of the Constituent Congresses of ...

and Francisco de Paula González Vigil. Annoyed, Bolívar secured the expulsion of the anti-Bolívar delegates and thus created a partisan opposition to his policies. Ugarte, Rubén Vargas (1966). ''La República, 1825-1833''. C. Milla Batres.

References

{{Reflist

1826 Events January–March * January 15 – The French newspaper ''Le Figaro'' begins publication in Paris, initially as a weekly. * January 30 – The Menai Suspension Bridge, built by engineer Thomas Telford, is opened between the island o ...

Constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of Legal entity, entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed. When ...

1826 in Peru