Battle of Junin
1824 CE · Junin, Peru
The Battle of Junin was fought in 1824 CE in Junin, Peru between Patriots of Peru and Gran Colombia vs the Spanish royalists; Patriot victory in a cavalry battle fought entirely with lances and sabres, without a shot fired.
Battle of Junin: quick facts
- Date
- 1824 CE
- Location
- Junin, Peru
- Belligerents
- Patriots of Peru and Gran Colombia vs the Spanish royalists
- Commanders
- Simón Bolívar vs José de Canterac
- Result
- Patriot victory in a cavalry battle fought entirely with lances and sabres, without a shot fired.
- Era
- 🌎 Latin American Wars
- Quiz difficulty
- hard
What happened at the Battle of Junin?
The Battle of Junin was a remarkable cavalry engagement fought entirely with swords and lances - not a single shot was fired. On the high plains near Lake Junin, Bolivar's patriot cavalry clashed with Spanish royalist horsemen. A flanking charge by the Peruvian Hussars turned the tide, securing a crucial victory that set the stage for Ayacucho.
Did you know?
The Battle of Junin lasted approximately 45 minutes and was fought entirely with cavalry sabers and lances — not a single firearm was discharged during the entire engagement, making it one of history's last great cold-steel cavalry battles.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Junin on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.