A Story of Independence
You cannot talk about Costa Rican independence without reviewing Mexican History.
Different than the American Colonies, Spanish Colonies were organized as kingdoms, specifically vice-royalties. Spain had four vice-royalties in the Americas, New Spain, Peru, Río de la Plata and New Granada. Costa Rica was a small province administered by the Capitanía General de Guatemala which was par of New Spain. New Spain was officially founded on March 8th, 1535 in Tenochtitlán, which is known today as Mexico City.
In 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain which created crisis over the legitimacy of the crown rule as Napoleon had placed his brother Joseph Bonaparte on the Spanish throne after forcing the abdication of the Spanish monarch Charles IV. In the colonies, some saw this as an opportunity to break away from the crown. In New Spain, there were royalist who supported the Spanish Crown under the Bourbon Monarchy, and there were those who favored independence. In 1808, Viceroy José de Iturrigaray was overthrown by separatists.
Plan of Igualá
Numerous revolts sprung throughout New Spain, at some point some leaders decided to join forces, such was the case of Iturbide and Guerrero known as the Plan of Igualá.
Agustin de Iturbide was an Army General, initially supporting the monarchy and colonial rule over New Spain and fighting against the insurgents and separatists. However, the Napolenic rule in Spain put in jeopardy the future of New Spain as a part of the Spanish Empire. Iturbide decided to protect the integrity of Mexico by supporting its independence not necessarily from the Spaniard Crown, but from a failing monarchy overthrown by Bonaparte.
Iturbide switched sides and join the separatist movement and made an agreement with Vicente Guerrero, a mixed-race Mexican fighting for independence.
By September 27th 1821, the Mexicans succeeded and had declared the independence of Mexico and created the First Mexican Empire with Agustin de Iturbide as the Emperor.
Meanwhile in Costa Rica
On October 13, 1821 the news of the indpendece of New Spain (of which Costa Rica was part of) arrived in Cartago then the capital of Costa Rica. An emergency meeting was called by Governor Juan Manuel de Cañas. Costa Ricans were not very clear about what to do. Either joining the Empire of Mexico, either joining New Granada (today Colombia), or being its own country. They decided to wait for the clouds to clear up.
San Jose, Heredia and Alajuela decided to be independent, while Cartago decided to remain part of something, which meant being part of the Mexican Expire. On April 5th 1823, the two sides got to the arms and fought the battle of Ochomogo, the Republicans won and Cartago got defeated. Costa Rica became officially a new republic and the capital was moved from Cartago to San Jose.
Funny HaHa
Costa Rica did not fire a single shot for the war of independence, while the Mexicans fought for over 10 years to accidentally give independence to Costa Rica.
The battle of Ochomogo was fought in April 1823 to decide whether or not to join the Mexican expire. Unbeknownst to Ticos, the First Mexican Empire was overthrown in March 1823. In good Pura Vida fashion, Ticos acted too late.