volunteers, and on February 12, 1820, he defeated the Spanish army of General Warleta at the “Battle of Chorros Blancos”, in Yarumal, Antioquia. This victory marked the end of the presence of Spanish troops in Antioquia. Having completed his mission in Antioquia, Córdova then took his the participated in the battle for Cartagena in 1821, commanding his own Antioquia Battalion. After that, Córdova was order by Bolivar to join the Southern Campaign and headed to Ecuador, where he participated with distinction in the Battle of Pichincha in 1822. In 1824, having already been named Brigadier General, Córdova was sent to Peru to join with General Antonio José de Sucre, to defeat royalist forces under the Viceroy José de la Serna. In the Battle of Ayacucho, Córdova was given command of the first division of the army, and thanks to his distinguished service he earned the nickname "The Lion of Ayacucho". This victory confirmed Peruvian Independence, and led to the recognition of the independence of the South American states by England, France and the United States of America. Córdova continued south into Bolivia, and commanded the newly formed armed forces in the country during the formation of the government, and remained through 1827. Córdova's death Córdova returned to Antioquia after the military campaign to liberate Perú on September 8, 1829. He had clearly expressed his opposition and discontent with General Simón Bolívar proclamation as Dictator of Colombia and he was under investigation for the conspiracy of the "Noche Septembrina" of September 25, 1828. His discontentment with Bolivar's actions, led Córdova to organize a revolt against Bolívar in Antioquia. In response to Cordova's rebellion, Irish General Daniel Florence O'Leary was commissioned by Bolivar to render Cordova. The ensuing battle took place near El Santuario, Antioquia, where Córdova died by the hand of the Irish Commander Rupert Hand, on the 17th of October, 1829. As homage for his actions and in his memory the department of Córdova in Colombia, the Colombian army's military officer's academy and the Medellin International Airport in Rionegro are all named after him. References External links Luis Angel Arango Library; José María Córdoba Colombialink.com - José María Córdoba/Córdova biography Villegas editores - José María Córdova Latin American studies; Antonio José de Sucre, el Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho 1799 births 1829 deaths Colombian generals People from Antioquia Department