Cochabamba Day in Bolivia Date in the current year: September 14, 2024

Cochabamba is one of Bolivia’s nine departments. It is often referred to as the “granary” of the country because its geographical location is favorable for agriculture. The capital of the department, which is also named Cochabamba, is known as the “Garden City” and the “City of Eternal Spring” due to its mild climate with spring-like temperatures all year round.

By the moment the Spanish arrived on the continent, the Cochabamba valley had been inhabited by indigenous tribes for thousands of years due to its mild climate and fertile soils. In 1542, the Spanish purchased most of the land from local tribal chiefs for 130 pesos and began to settle in the valley.

On August 2, 1571, Francisco de Toledo founded the city of Villa de Oropesa. It was named after the Spanish municipality of the same name, which was the residence of the Álvarez de Toledo family. The city was founded as a center of agricultural production that provided Potosí and other mining towns of the Altiplano region with food and wood.

In 1786, Villa de Oropesa was renamed the “loyal and valiant” Villa de Cochabamba by King Charles III of Spain. He did this to highlight the city’s contribution to quelling indigenous rebellions: in 1781, Oropesa sent soldiers to Oruro to suppress an ingidenous uprising.

On May 25, 1809, the people of Chuquisaca rebelled against their governor, deposed him and formed a junta. The Chuquisaca revolution kick-started the Bolivian war of independence. It was followed by the La Paz revolution on July 16, 1809. Unfortunately, both rebellions were eventually quelled by the loyalist forces of the Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata.

The Cochabamba uprising began on September 14, 1810. About a thousand rebels took control of the city and deposed the governor. Inspired by Cochabamba’s example, the residents of Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Oruro rebelled too, not without the help of Cochabamba troops that came to fight at their side at the right moment.

Unfortunately, the Royalist troops launched a counterattack, and by August 1811, after several defeats in battles with the army of the Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata, the rebels had lost control of Cochabamba. The second uprising against the Spanish army took place on May 27, 1812. This time it was women who took up arms; to honor their bravery, May 27 is now celebrated as Mother’s Day in Bolivia.

Following the end of the Bolivian war of independence in 1825, Cochabamba became one of the departments of the newly independent republic. It remained one of Bolivia’s agricultural centers, but these days its economy is based mainly in services, although manufacturing and tourism also play a role. The city of Cochabamba is sometimes called the gastronomical capital of Bolivia due to its diverse traditional cuisine.

Cochabamba Day is the official holiday of the Cochabamba Department. It is celebrated on September 14 every year to commemorate the 1810 revolution.