296 POLITICAL HISTORY OF PERU. 
In the beginning of the year 1827, the Peruvians, through their 
intrigues, effected a revolt among the Colombian troops, who made 
prisoners of their officers, and thus an end was put to the authority of 
the Dictator Bolivar, by which Peru was freed from the presence, as 
well as the expense, of foreign troops. 
Immediately after this event, General La Mar was elected and 
proclaimed President of Peru. He was a native of Guayaquil, 
reported to be a mild and just man, had been brought up in the 
Spanish army, and w T as attached to General San Martin; but he 
appears to have been ill adapted to rule over such a people as the 
Peruvians. At first his election was popular, and his name took the 
place of that of Bolivar over all the gates, &c, in the City of Kings. 
At this change every demonstration of joy was witnessed. The 
Colombian troops were sent to the neighbourhood of Guayaquil, 
when they attempted a revolution against the Colombian authorities 
in Guaymas and Quito, (about forming the republic of Equador,) in 
which they were partially successful, but were soon put down by 
General Flores. These acts led to hostilities between Colombia and 
Peru, and in the beginning of 1828, La Mar marched to the 
frontiers of Colombia, without any declaration of war, with a part 
of the Peruvian forces, leaving General Gamarra, a native of Cusco, 
who had been the cause of so much revolution and bloodshed in 
Peru, to follow with a second division of Peruvian troops. At this 
time General Santa Cruz (who had been for a short time President 
of Peru) was President of Bolivia, and he, together with Gamarra 
and Lafuente, conspired to overthrow La Mar, after which Santa 
Cruz was to be proclaimed President of Peru, Gamarra Vice-Presi- 
dent, and Lafuente Minister of War. 
With this plan in view, Gamarra joined La Mar on the frontiers of 
Colombia. The battle of Portete took place soon afterwards, when, 
in consequence of the treachery or cowardice of Gamarra, the 
Peruvians were beaten, and capitulated on the field of battle to 
General Sucre, who was opposed to them with a much inferior force 
of Colombians. A treaty was signed, but was soon violated by the 
Peruvians, and hostilities again commenced. Another division of the 
Peruvian army, one thousand five hundred strong, which had been 
acting in Bolivia, embarked from Arica, under Lafuente, to join La 
Mar, in the jnorth. They arrived at Callao, and were disembarked 
against La Mar's orders, and shortly after Lafuente overthrew the 
government at Lima, whilst Gamarra arrested La Mar in the north, 
