Spanish American wars of independence important change in strategy after three United Provinces campaigns had been defeated in Upper Peru. San Martín's army became the nucleus of the Army of the Andes, which received crucial political and material support in 1816 when Juan Martín de Pueyrredón became Supreme Director of the United Provinces. In January 1817, San Martín was finally ready to advance against the royalists in Chile. Ignoring an injunction from the congress of the Río de la Plata not to move against Chile, San Martín together with General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, later Supreme Director of Chile, led the Army over the Andes in
Martha de San Bernardo colony of Macau. Together with several Spanish postulants, she was formally received into the Colettine Order onboard a ship sailing the South China Sea, at which time she was given the religious name by which she is now known. The precise details of Mother De San Bernardo's death are unrecorded. The Colettines officially give the years 1639-40, saying that she died in Macau while on mission. The cause for Martha de San Bernardo's canonization has been put forward, but it is still awaiting approval by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints of the Holy See. Martha de San Bernardo