Reparations from material damages cuased by 18th century wars in Colombia Reflections on evidence following rulings of the Supreme Court of Justice

Abstract

The 18^th century in Colombia was marked by multiple local conflicts and national wars. Despite the existence of a historical narrative that exposes the cause of the conflicts, no works can be found that analyze the responses offered by the law to the victims of the provisions, loans, and expropriations levied by the legitimate government or armed groups. Taking into account the role of the Supreme Court of Justice as a “uniting force” of law in the “regeneration” project, certain jurisprudential developments are evident in regards to recognizing the material damages of the victims, making a special emphasis on the strategies utilized by the Court to resolve the difficulties found in certain cases. Following a descriptive and qualitative methodological focus, three stages were identified to have been used by the aforementioned court, as well as the use of figures such as “oath” and “equity,” to determine ownership in the difficult process of restoration of appropriated property and goods.