San Martin, thereupon, entered the capital at the head of his army of liberation and summoned the inhabitants to a town meeting at which they might determine for themselves what action should be taken.

The result was easily foreseen.

On July 28, 1821, Peru was declared independent, and a few days later San Martin was invested with supreme command under the title of "Protector." But the triumph of the new Protector did not last long.

For some reason he failed to understand that the withdrawal of the royalists from the neighborhood of the coast was merely a strategic retreat that made the occupation of the capital a more or less empty performance.

This blunder and a variety of other mishaps proved destined to blight his military career.