make progress. The defeat of royalist expedition into Chile under Mariano Osorio and advances into Peru made by José de San Martín left Viceroy Joaquín de la Pezuela politically discredited. The viceroy was overthrown on 29 January 1821, in Asnapukyu (Aznapuquio), in a coup by General José de la Serna; the royalist general proclaimed his adherence to the restored Spanish Constitution in the "Proclamation of Aznapuquio" (). The Patriots started the new year with a promising victory. At Cerro de Pasco they defeated a Peruvian royalist army commanded by La Serna. However, the royalists had received solid military training. Their first victory came against the patriot army commanded by Domingo Tristán and Agustín Gamarra in campaigns in the Ica Region. A year later, San Martín had withdrawn from the scene after the Guayaquil conference, and royalist forces had smashed Rudecindo Alvarado's Liberating Expedition in campaigns in Torata and Moquegua. The year 1823 ended with the La Serna destroying another patriot army commanded by Andrés de Santa Cruz and Agustín Gamarra in yet another open campaign in Puno, which started with the Battle of Zepita and resulted in the occupation of La Paz on 8 August. After scattering Santa Cruz's isolated troops, La Serna recaptured Arequipa after beating Antonio José de Sucre's Gran Colombian force on 10 October. Sucre decided to evacuate the Gran Colombian troops, setting sail on 10 October 1823, saving himself and his troops, although losing the best of his cavalry. Viceroy La Serna ended the campaign after reaching Oruro in Upper Peru. On the political front, the last remnants of optimism among patriots faded away with accusations of treason against Peruvian presidents José de la Riva Agüero and José Bernardo de Tagle. Riva Agüero deported deputies of the Peruvian Congress and organized another congress in Trujillo. After being found guilty of high treason by the Peruvian Congress he was banished to Chile. Simón Bolívar in turn considered this treasonous. Tagle, who had earlier ordered all armies under his command to support Bolívar against the royalist enemy, was now pursued by Bolívar, who was looking to capture and execute him. Tagle took shelter with the royalists in the besieged fortress of Callao. Nevertheless, by the end of 1823, the situation had also become critical for those who defended the king's cause. In spite of the impressive military triumphs, Bolívar's request for reinforcements from Colombia made him a threat