Once Christopher Columbus proposed a new trade route to Asia by sea and discovered the Americas instead. Years later, Creoles in New Granada (present-day Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela) grew tired of Spanish rule and taxes. On July 20, 1810, they launched a rebellion against the Spanish viceroy and declared independence. However, the Spanish monarch sent forces to retake control of New Granada. It was not until August 7, 1819, when Simon Bolivar led patriot forces to victory over the Royalists at the Battle of Boyaca, that independence was secured.