Bernardo O'Higgins accepted the position instead, and became the leader of an independent Chile. He was granted dictatorial powers as Supreme Director on 16 February 1817. On 12 February 1818, Chile proclaimed itself an independent republic. Throughout the war with the royalists, O'Higgins had engaged in an ongoing feud with José Miguel Carrera. After their retreat in 1814, O'Higgins had fared much better than Carrera, who found little support forthcoming from San Martín, O'Higgins' political ally. Carrera was imprisoned to prevent his involvement in Chilean affairs; after his escape, he ended up taking the winning side in the Argentine Federalist war, helping
Bernardo de Izaguirre de los Reyes Bernardo de Izaguirre de los Reyes Bernardo de Izaguirre de los Reyes (died November 16, 1668) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of La Plata o Charcas (1669–1670), Bishop of Cuzco (1662–1669), and Bishop of Panamá (1654–1659). Bernardo de Izaguirre de los Reyes was selected on July 28, 1654 and confirmed on April 21, 1655 by Pope Alexander VII as Bishop of Panamá. On January 12, 1659, he was consecrated bishop by Alonso de Briceño, Bishop of Caracas On July 31, 1662, he was appointed as Bishop of Cuzco. On July 15, 1669, Pope Clement IX confirmed