The event that sparked the independence movements in Latin America was the Napoleonic Wars and the subsequent invasion of Spain in 1808. As Napoleon’s forces occupied Spain, the Spanish crown's authority weakened, leading to a power vacuum in its colonies. Local elites in Latin America began to question Spanish rule and sought greater autonomy. Inspired by Enlightenment ideals and other revolutionary movements, including the American and French Revolutions, these sentiments culminated in a series of uprisings and wars for independence throughout the 19th century, beginning with the revolts led by figures like Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín.