Carondelet Palace and the First Cry

In front of you is Carondelet Palace, seat of Ecuador's presidency. It was once the palace of the Real Audiencia, the court that governed this territory on behalf of the King of Spain. Its elegant colonnade is owed to the Baron of Carondelet, president of the Audiencia from 1799 to 1807.

1The night of 9 August

In 1808 Napoleon had occupied Spain and King Ferdinand VII was a prisoner. In Quito, a group of enlightened criollos saw a chance to govern themselves. On the night of 9 August 1809 they met at the house of Manuela Cañizares, a few streets from here, and the next morning they informed the president of the Audiencia, the Count Ruiz de Castilla, that he had been removed.

A Sovereign Junta was formed under Juan Pío Montúfar, Marquis of Selva Alegre. It swore loyalty to Ferdinand VII but governed without the Spanish authorities. That is why 10 August is remembered as the First Cry of Independence of Spanish America.

2A bitter ending

The junta dissolved within a few months, Ruiz de Castilla returned to power and the patriots ended up in prison, as you saw at the previous stop. The monument in the centre, unveiled in 1906, honours “the heroes of 10 August”.

This palace witnessed another drama: on 6 August 1875, President Gabriel García Moreno was attacked with machetes and gunfire as he left it. A plaque marks the event.

3What to look for

• The colonnade of the façade, from the time of the Baron of Carondelet.
• The wounded lion at the foot of the monument, symbolising defeated Spain.
• The condor with broken chains, representing American freedom.