▁by ▁the ▁Spanish ▁conquist ador ▁Juan ▁J uf ré . ▁▁ ▁It ▁is ▁located ▁in ▁the ▁fert ile ▁but ▁earth qu ake - pr one ▁San ▁Juan ▁valley ▁in ▁the ▁mountain ous ▁C uy o ▁region ▁of ▁the ▁west ▁of ▁what ▁is ▁now ▁Argentina , ▁and ▁is ▁headquarters ▁of ▁San ▁Juan ▁Province . ▁ ▁The ▁And es ▁rise ▁in ▁the ▁west ▁of ▁the ▁province , ▁forming ▁the ▁border ▁with ▁Chile . ▁To ▁the ▁south ▁is ▁M endo za ▁Province ▁and ▁San ▁Luis ▁Province , ▁and ▁to ▁the ▁east ▁and ▁north ▁is ▁La ▁Rio ja ▁Province . ▁When ▁Ben av í de z ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁ 1 8 0 2 , ▁San ▁Juan ▁was ▁a ▁sleep y ▁provincial ▁town ▁in ▁the ▁Vic ero yal ty ▁of ▁the ▁Río ▁de ▁la ▁Pl ata , ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Spanish ▁Empire . ▁San ▁Juan ▁was ▁mainly ▁known ▁for ▁its ▁ag u ard iente , ▁or ▁strong ▁liqu or . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁May ▁Revolution ▁of ▁ 1 8 1 0 ▁the ▁leaders ▁in ▁Buenos ▁Aires , ▁the ▁main ▁city ▁of ▁the ▁vic ero yal ty , ▁declared ▁independence ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁Provin ces ▁of ▁the ▁Río ▁de ▁la ▁Pl ata ▁from ▁the ▁Bon ap arte ▁dynast y ▁of ▁Spain . ▁On ▁ 1 9 ▁July ▁ 1 8 1 6 , ▁when ▁Ben av í de z ▁was ▁four teen , ▁full ▁independence ▁from ▁Spain ▁was ▁declared ▁at ▁the ▁Congress ▁of ▁T uc um án . ▁▁ ▁This ▁was ▁followed ▁by ▁a ▁long ▁series ▁of ▁civil