Autonomy and centralism:

shaping the Chilean State and Nation (1823-1830).

Abstract

The power vacuum existing after the napoleonic invasion in the Iberian Peninsula activated the proliferation of many self-government scattered through the Spanish monarchy substituting the sovereignty of the captive monarch. A mosaic of political bodies that performed a significant role during the first moments of the monarchical crisis, the following shaping of the Independence movement and later on during the configuration of the emerging American States. Chile - even though it was ahead his neighbour countries regarding strengthening a stable State - did not avoid the movements towards autonomy that found their highest extent during the period of “Anarchy”, intermission within two dictatorships characterised by the confrontation between Santiago – old headquarters of the colonial administration – and the provinces for management of the building of the State. In this article it is intended to synthesise that period based in the most recent research on the topic.