Brazilian-led allied victory
147-441: [REDACTED] Defence Government [REDACTED] Cerrito Government [REDACTED] Pedro II ( Emperor of Brazil ) [REDACTED] Juan M. de Rosas ( Governor of Buenos Aires ) The Platine War ( Spanish : Guerra Platina , Portuguese : Guerra do Prata, Guerra contra Oribe e Rosas ; 18 August 1851 – 3 February 1852) was fought between the Argentine Confederation and an alliance consisting of
294-471: A Brazilian attack on Carmen de Patagones . But by 1828, the superior numbers of Brazil's blockading squadrons had effectively destroyed Brown's naval force at the Monte Santiago and was successfully strangling the trade of Buenos Aires and the government revenue it generated. According to Brian Vale, "it was inevitable that Brazil's principal weapon in the struggle would be a naval blockade", given
441-651: A blockade on the Río de la Plata . Buenos Aires was repeatedly bombarded by the Anglo-French fleet. The Argentine government was able to mount an effective resistance, however, leading to a peace accord in 1849. By the middle of the 19th century, the Empire of Brazil was the richest and most powerful nation in Latin America . It thrived under democratic institutions and a constitutional monarchy and prided itself on
588-524: A natural harbour , on the right bank of the river, right in front of Buenos Aires , which he effectively did in 1680. By expanding into the River Plate basin, the Portuguese wanted to secure access to the continent's interior and also divert the smuggling of silver from Upper Peru away from Buenos Aires. The Spaniards, wishing to solidify their control over the region, also founded a colony on
735-478: A Brazilian army of 16,200 professional soldiers across the border between Rio Grande do Sul and Uruguay on 4 September 1851. His force consisted of four divisions, with 6,500 infantrymen, 8,900 cavalrymen, 800 artillerymen and 26 cannons, a little under half the total Brazilian army (37,000 men); while another 4,000 of his men remained in Brazil to protect its border. The Brazilian Army entered Uruguay in three groups:
882-521: A blockade on international traffic to and from Paraguay on the Paraná River . Paraguay held its own conflict against Juan Manuel de Rosas receiving very substantial support from the Empire of Brazil. President Carlos Antonio López declared war against Rosas and in the first phase of the "Paraguayan front" (1845–1846), Paraguay invaded the Province of Corrientes hoping to cause a rebellion alongside
1029-467: A decade later, Argentina could only field an army of 6,000 men. Brazil also decided to adopt Rosas' own tactics by financing his opponents to weaken him both internally and externally. The Brazilian government set about creating a regional alliance against Rosas, sending a delegation to the region led by Honório Hermeto Carneiro Leão (later the Marquis of Paraná), who held plenipotentiary authority. He
1176-549: A fight on 19 October, and retreated into seclusion on his farm in Paso del Molino . The Brazilian fleet, with their ships scattered throughout the River Plate and tributaries, prevented the defeated army of Oribe from escaping into Argentina. Urquiza suggested to Grenfell that they should simply kill the resulting prisoners of war, but Grenfell refused to harm any of them. Instead, Oribe's Argentine soldiers were incorporated into
1323-681: A law that provided for the creation and maintenance of an army. This army, created by Juan Gregorio de las Heras on 13 May 1825, was named "Observation Army" and had a predicted strength of 8,000 men. Command was given to general Martín Rodriguez , who positioned it along the Uruguay River without any notification to the Brazilian government. This act caused the protest of the Brazilian consul in Buenos Aires, Antônio José Falcão da Frota [ pt ] , who had been appointed for
1470-526: A lesser extent—American and French officers and sailors, the most notable of which were the Irish born admiral William Brown , and the commander of the Brazilian inshore squadron, the English commodore James Norton . The strategy of the two nations reflected their respective positions. The Brazilians immediately imposed a blockade on the Río de la Plata and the trade of Buenos Aires on 31 December 1825, while
1617-733: A naval force to the Platine region, basing it near the port of Montevideo. The British Rear admiral John Pascoe Grenfell , a veteran of the Brazilian War of Independence and of the Cisplatine War, was appointed to lead the fleet, which reached Montevideo on 4 May 1851. His command included 1 frigate , 7 corvettes , 3 brigs and 6 steamships . The Brazilian Armada had a total of 59 vessels of various types in 1851, including 36 armed sailing ships, 10 armed steamships, 7 unarmed sailing ships and 6 sailing transports. Uruguay, Brazil and
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#17327660466561764-643: A note on 3 November. The following day, the Argentine government broke off diplomatic relations with Brazil, claiming that the Imperial Navy had engaged in acts of hostility in the River Plate. Faced with this situation, the Empire of Brazil then responded by formally declaring war on the United Provinces on 10 December 1825, with admiral Rodrigo Lobo declaring "all the ports of the Republic in
1911-563: A passage of the Paraná River in the battle which became known as the Passage of the Tonelero . The Argentines had formed a powerful defensive line at The Tonelero Pass, near the cliffs of Acevedo, protected by 16 pieces of artillery and 2,000 riflemen under the command of general Lucio Norberto Mansilla . The Argentine troops exchanged fire with the Brazilian warships but were unable to prevent them from progressing upriver. The following day,
2058-496: A peace treaty with Brazilian representatives, recognizing Brazil's sovereignty over Cisplatina and agreeing to pay Brazil a war indemnity. The treaty was rejected by Argentine president Bernardino Rivadavia , but its terms generated enormous backlash forcing the president to present his resignation. Manuel Dorrego was then elected to succeed him and continue the war. The conflict continued until 27 August 1828, when Argentine and Brazilian representatives, under British mediation, signed
2205-464: A peaceful resolution at any cost. These feared Brazil was unprepared for war and that a defeat would lead to a situation similar to the chaos following the loss of Cisplatina in the 1820s, which ended in abdication by Dom Pedro I , the Emperor's father. Other ministers took the position that only a military response would eliminate the threat. In 1849, however, Paulino José Soares de Sousa , a member of
2352-768: A series of regional rebellions. Meanwhile, Uruguay struggled with its own civil war, which started after gaining independence from the Brazilian Empire in 1828 in the Cisplatine War . Rosas backed the Uruguayan Blanco party in this conflict, and further desired to extend Argentine borders to areas formerly occupied by the Spanish Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata . This meant asserting control over Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia , which threatened Brazilian interests and sovereignty since
2499-504: A single corvette was present there. In May, admiral Lobo conceded and agreed to limit the blockade to the River Plate's estuary. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, accepted the Brazilian position. As a naval power itself, it was not in Britain's interests for blockades to be hampered by excessive rules. The British government ordered its diplomatic posts to observe the blockade and refused requests for intervention made by its nationals to
2646-478: A sovereign nation since 1811, but it was not recognized as such by any other nation. Argentina viewed it as a rebellious province. The Paraguayan dictator José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia decided that the best way to maintain his own rule and the independence of Paraguay from Argentina was to isolate the country from contacts with the outside world. It was for this reason that, up until 1840, Paraguay had avoided establishing diplomatic relations with other nations. With
2793-544: A state of blockade" eleven days later, on 21 December. In order to effectively fight Brazil, the Argentine Congress then created the central executive power and elected Bernardino Rivadavia as the country's first president. According to Brian Vale and Jorge Luis Toscano, Brazil was the largest naval power in the Americas at the time. Toscano estimated the Brazilian fleet at no less than 65 large warships for
2940-536: A total of 690 guns in 1825, also counting 31 small armed packet boats and transport vessels, noting that it had doubled in size in the three years after the country's independence war by the purchase or incorporation of ships that had been captured by lord Thomas Cochrane from Portugal during the conflict. Apart from purchasing ships, the imperial government also ordered the construction of new ones in local shipyards: two frigates , two corvettes and several gunboats and yachts . In Hélio Leôncio Martins' estimate,
3087-482: A watershed for the history of the region, ushering in Brazilian hegemony over the Platine region and, according to Brazilian historian J. F. Maya Pedrosa, the rest of South America as well. The War of the Triple Alliance eighteen years later would only be a confirmation of Brazilian dominance. The country came out of the conflict with its monarchy strengthened and the cessation of internal revolts, including in
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#17327660466563234-530: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Cisplatine War The Cisplatine War was an armed conflict fought in the 1820s between the Empire of Brazil and the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata over control of Brazil's Cisplatina province. It was fought in the aftermath of the United Provinces' and Brazil's independence from Spain and Portugal, respectively, and resulted in
3381-486: The Argentine Navy was "insignificant and consisted of little more than a handful of small ships left aside since the independence campaign", also remarking that the sight of admiral Lobo's fleet anchored in front of Buenos Aires was a constant reminder of the country's vulnerability. As a result, measures began to be taken in mid-1825: the new Argentine navy minister, Marcos Balcarce [ es ] , created
3528-583: The Battle of Alvarez Field . Pacheco retreated. Two days later, troops under his personal command were defeated at the Battle of Marques Bridge by two allied divisions. On 1 February 1852, the Allied troops encamped approximately nine kilometers from Buenos Aires. The next day a brief skirmish between the vanguards of both armies ended with a retreat by the Argentines. On 3 February the Allied army encountered
3675-532: The Blancos , led by Don Juan Antonio Lavalleja , and the Colorados , led by Don Fructuoso Rivera . Lavalleja soon discovered that Rosas in neighbouring Buenos Aires was interested in aiding him financially and militarily. In 1832, Lavalleja began to receive aid from Bento Gonçalves , a soldier and farmer from the Brazilian province of Rio Grande do Sul . Gonçalves had been encouraged by Rosas to rebel against
3822-501: The Brazilian Navy obtained better results, despite the Argentine resistance, whose small fleet, led by Irish-born admiral William Brown , was mostly destroyed. The economic burden and internal political disputes caused by the war in both states, especially the Brazilian naval blockade and the impasse on land, led both countries to start peace negotiations. In 1827, the Argentine minister plenipotentiary Manuel José García signed
3969-665: The Empire of Brazil , Uruguay , and the Argentine provinces of Entre Ríos and Corrientes , with the participation of the Republic of Paraguay as Brazil's co-belligerent and ally. The war was part of a decades-long dispute between Argentina and Brazil for influence over Uruguay and Paraguay , and hegemony over the Platine region (areas bordering the Río de la Plata ). The conflict took place in Uruguay and northeastern Argentina, and on
4116-730: The Foreign Office . In May 1826, Rodrigo Lobo was replaced by admiral Pinto Guedes , who reinvigorated the blockade, causing an enormous increase in the number of vessels seized, which motivated protests from Britain, France and the United States. In November Raguet announced that the United States refused to accept the legality of the blockade; the French ambassador was also instructed not to recognize it, unless Brazil released all French prizes and paid an indemnity. Only Britain continued to recognize it. With foreign patience waning,
4263-491: The Imperial Brazilian Navy was the strongest force Brazil could rely on, numbering 121 ships including two ships of the line , Pedro I and Príncipe Real , 8 frigates, 7 corvettes, 1 lugger , 17 brigs , 24 schooners , 33 gunboats, and other vessels. Apart from these vessels, the Brazilian fleet also included merchant ones that had been armed and converted into warships. Its quality varied, however;
4410-617: The Portuguese Cortes , the Brazilian government juntas in the provinces gradually joined the independence cause, with the exception of Cisplatina, whose junta, led by Portuguese-born Álvaro da Costa [ pt ] , voted to remain loyal to Portugal. Brazilian patriots, loyal to prince Pedro and under the command of Carlos Frederico Lecor, then besieged and blockaded the Portuguese troops garrisoned in Montevideo, finally defeating them in 1824. The local population
4557-708: The Preliminary Peace Convention of 1828 , by which Cisplatina would become an independent state and hostilities would cease. After the war, tensions in Argentina between the Federalists and the Unitarians increased. Manuel Dorrego, a Federalist, was deposed and executed by Juan Lavalle and the country fell into a civil war . In Brazil, the war's financial cost, aggravated by the damage done to Brazilian trade by Argentine corsairs, and
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4704-504: The United Kingdom , where he would spend the last twenty years of his life. The official report stated that 600 men on the Allied side had been wounded or died, while the Argentine losses were 1,400 killed or wounded and 7,000 captured. Given the duration and scale of the battle, however, this may be an underestimate. To mark their victory, the Allied troops marched in triumph through the streets of Buenos Aires. The parades included
4851-547: The Uruguay River and landed on Agraciada beach with arms and ammunition, starting the rebel movement against the Empire of Brazil; the action had Rivera's knowledge and collusion. After landing, Lavalleja and his men set out in search of recruits. The next day, the patriots, already numbering more than 200 men, marched to Soriano and defeated the small garrison there, which was commanded by Julián Laguna [ es ] , who joined them. People from every corner of
4998-530: The Uruguayan War as well as the later Paraguayan War . Gobierno de la Defensa The Defense Government ( Spanish : Gobierno de la Defensa ) governed just the city of Montevideo during the period known as Great Siege of Montevideo (1843–1851). It was led by Joaquín Suárez , while the army was led by Fructuoso Rivera . Uruguay was experiencing the Guerra Grande , between
5145-544: The 1st Division of the Brazilian Army under Brigadier General Manuel Marques de Sousa (later the Count of Porto Alegre). It was initially based in the town of Colonia del Sacramento in the south of Uruguay across the Río de la Plata estuary from the city of Buenos Aires. On 17 December 1851, a squadron of Brazilian ships, consisting of four steamships, three corvettes and one brig under the command of Grenfell, forced
5292-459: The Allied army was divided, with the main arm advancing by land to engage Rosas' main defenses and the other launching a seaborne assault directed at Buenos Aires . The Platine War ended in February of 1852 with the Allied victory at the Battle of Caseros , for some time establishing Brazilian hegemony over much of South America. The war ushered in a period of economic and political stability in
5439-450: The Allied army, keeping a defensive role (as established with Brazil). This was because López was very suspicious of Justo José de Urquiza , former General of Rosas' army who became the leader of the Argentine insurrection. The old Brazilian province of Cisplatina had become the independent Oriental Republic of Uruguay after the Cisplatine War of the 1820s. The country soon was engulfed in a long civil war between its two political parties:
5586-462: The Allied forces were finally reunited. From Diamante contingents were ferried to the other side of the Paraná River, landing at Santa Fe. The Confederate Argentine troops in the region ran away without offering any resistance. The Allied Army, or the " Grand Army of South America " as it was officially called by Urquiza, marched on towards Buenos Aires. Meanwhile, the second force, comprising
5733-404: The Argentine army initially crossed the Río de la Plata and established its headquarters near the town of Durazno . General Carlos María de Alvear invaded Brazilian territory and a series of skirmishes followed. Emperor Pedro I planned a counteroffensive by late 1826, and managed to gather a small army mainly composed of southern Brazilian volunteers and European mercenaries. The recruiting effort
5880-475: The Argentine dissidents led by Gen. José María Paz , which fared poorly. In the second phase however (1847–1850), the Paraguayans under Gen. Francisco Solano López occupied the Province of Misiones which was under Rosas' rule, resisting in their positions while suffering heavy losses against the counterattacks of the forces of Buenos Aires. The friendship and alliance between the Republic of Paraguay and
6027-404: The Argentine government, which began mobilizing for war. Brazil had also been searching for support against Rosas inside Argentina, with some success. On 1 May 1851, the province of Entre Ríos, still governed by Urquiza, declared to Rosas that "it is the will of its people to re-assume the entire exercise of its own sovereignty and power which had been delegated to the governor of Buenos Aires." It
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6174-475: The Argentine provinces of Entre Rios and Corrientes joined in an offensive Alliance against Rosas on 29 May 1851. The text of the treaty declared that the objective was to protect Uruguayan independence, pacify its territory, and expel Oribe's forces. Urquiza would command the Argentine forces and Eugenio Garzón would lead the Colorado Uruguayans, with both receiving financial and military aid from
6321-465: The Argentines attempted to defy the blockade using Brown's squadron while unleashing a swarm of privateers to attack Brazilian seaborne commerce in the South Atlantic from their bases at Ensenada and more distant Carmen de Patagones . The Argentines gained some notable successes—most notably by defeating the Brazilian flotilla on the Uruguay River at the Battle of Juncal and by beating off
6468-566: The Brazilian Army, which insisted that their triumphal procession take place on 20 February, to mark payback for the defeat it had suffered at the Battle of Ituzaingó twenty five years before on that date. The population of Buenos Aires was said to have looked on silently with a combination of shame and hostility as the Brazilians passed. The triumph in Caseros was a pivotal military victory for Brazil. The independence of Paraguay and Uruguay
6615-457: The Brazilian Empire, expansionist plans on the part of powerful, republican Argentina represented an existential threat. It also meant a threat to Brazilian hegemony across its southern borders. A successful Argentine bid to incorporate Paraguay and Uruguay into a reconstituted Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata (and control of the Platine river network consequently passing into entirely hostile hands) would have threatened to cut communication between
6762-603: The Brazilian court in Rio de Janeiro in order to negotiate a peaceful Brazilian withdrawal from the region. The Argentine diplomatic mission made a series of proposals and, after receiving no response from the Brazilian government, demanded a reply in February 1824. The answer was given on 6 February 1824, in which the Imperial government promptly rejected any negotiations regarding the cession of Cisplatina, concluding its note by declaring: Therefore, on these important considerations,
6909-408: The Brazilian government in 1835, with the ultimate aim of enabling Argentina to annex the province of Rio Grande do Sul. Together, Lavalleja and Gonçalves initiated a military campaign in Uruguay which was characterized by extensive violence and pillage. Gonçalves betrayed Rosas and Lavalleja by becoming an ally of Rivera. Both then invaded Uruguay and overran most of the country outside the environs of
7056-424: The Brazilian government backed down: on 26 November 1826, Guedes was ordered only to seize neutral vessels that were attempting to run the blockade after individually warning each one of them. The changes to the blockade's rules made the risk worth taking, and so the number of vessels reaching Buenos Aires, most of which were American, increased. Disappointed with his government's decision, Guedes declared: "I feel not
7203-497: The Brazilian government sent two thousand men and a fleet under admiral Rodrigo Ferreira Lobo to the River Plate in July 1825 in order to request the Argentines to abstain from further aiding the rebels and to recall "their subjects", otherwise his imperial majesty would "repel force by force". The Argentine government replied that it had no part in the rebellion and that "the supplies furnished from Buenos Aires had been bought either with
7350-504: The Brazilian province of Mato Grosso and Rio de Janeiro. With river transportation denied, the alternative land routes would require months of travel instead of days. Nor was Brazil keen to share a direct border with Argentina, fearing an increased vulnerability to an invasion by Rosas. The members of the Brazilian Cabinet could not reach agreement as to how to address the danger posed by Rosas. Some ministers advocated seeking
7497-487: The Brazilian ships returned and broke their way through the Tonelero's defences, carrying the remaining troops of Marques de Sousa's Brazilian division upstream towards Gualeguaichu . This second influx of ships caused Mansilla and his soldiers to withdraw in chaos, abandoning their artillery, believing that the Allies were intending to land and attack their positions from the rear. The Allied army continued to make its way to
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#17327660466567644-699: The Buenos Aires elites' intention of centralizing power and resisted their attempts to take control of the Banda Oriental, defeating Manuel Dorrego at the battle of Guayabos [ es ] in 1815 and forming the League of the Free Peoples . This league was based on federalism and social reform, which gained him the support of the poor peoples of the countryside; thus, Artigas became an obstacle to Buenos Aires' political ambitions. Artigas also opposed Portuguese intentions of asserting control over
7791-523: The Cisplatina province remained as part of the Empire of Brazil. Following the United Province's recognition of Brazil's independence on 25 June 1823, the country immediately began diplomatic talks with the Empire regarding Cisplatina, which the Argentine government considered theirs and wanted to gain possession of. In 1823, the Argentines sent José Valentín Gómez [ es ] to
7938-597: The Council decided to rely on the standing army. It sent a contingent south to secure the region. Brazil held an advantage in possessing a powerful and modern navy, along with an experienced professional army hardened by years of internal and external warfare. Up until this point, no other nation in South America possessed true navies or regular armies. Rosas' and Oribe's forces were largely made up of irregular troops on loan from those caudillos who supported them. Even
8085-465: The Empire of Brazil remained strong until 1852, when Rosas was finally overthrown. In fact, the Brazilian diplomacy played a key role for the recognition of the Independence of Paraguay. On the other hand, Paraguay gave its full support to Brazil, fighting its own campaign against Buenos Aires. However, in the final phase of the conflict (1851–1852), President Carlos López refused to join forces with
8232-473: The Empire of Brazil. This was followed on 2 August 1851 by landings of the first Brazilian detachments in Uruguay, consisting of approximately 300 soldiers of the 6th Battalion of Skirmishers sent to protect Fuerte del Cerro (Cerro Fort). In response, Rosas declared war against Brazil on 18 August 1851. According to Herrera y Obes, Rosas would have said, as war approached: "poor Brazilians, I'm going to make of their Emperor my butler". The Count of Caxias led
8379-444: The Empire of Brazil. With Rosas gone, Argentina began a political process which would result in a more unified state. However, the end of the Platine war did not completely resolve issues within the Platine region. Turmoil continued in subsequent years, with internal disputes among political factions in Uruguay, a long civil war in Argentina, and an emergent Paraguay asserting its claims. Two more major international wars followed during
8526-614: The Government of His Imperial Majesty can not enter with Buenos Aires on a negotiation which has for its fundamental basis the cession of the Cisplatine State, the inhabitants of which it can not abandon. Emperor Pedro I of Brazil, who had been informed of the situation in Cisplatina by Lecor, believed the natives of the province wanted to remain as part of the Empire; however, Lecor had surrounded himself with people who were sympathetic to Brazil, which prevented him from knowing
8673-531: The Primera Junta, and so the Argentines, led by José Rondeau , lifted the siege on Montevideo and left the Banda Oriental. Likewise, the Portuguese signed an armistice with Buenos Aires on 26 May 1812 and also left the region. In this struggle for control over the region, José Gervasio Artigas , a native of the Banda Oriental who had defeated the Spanish at the battle of Las Piedras in 1811, opposed
8820-455: The River Plate, declared the blockade on 21 December, giving neutral vessels fourteen days to leave. News of the blockade only reached Buenos Aires ten days after its declaration, however, and a wave of panic ensued. Woodbine Parish , the British consul in the city, protested that it would be impossible for neutral vessels to leave in time, and so admiral Lobo agreed to postpone the beginning of
8967-520: The Río de la Plata. Uruguay's internal troubles, including the longrunning Uruguayan Civil War ( La Guerra Grande – "The Great War"), were heavily influential factors leading to the Platine War. In 1850, the Platine region was politically unstable. Although the Governor of Buenos Aires, Juan Manuel de Rosas , had gained dictatorial control over other Argentine provinces, his rule was plagued by
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#17327660466569114-403: The United Provinces and the United Kingdom , the latter pressed the two belligerent parties to engage in peace negotiations in Rio de Janeiro. Under British mediation, the United Provinces and the Empire of Brazil signed the 1828 Treaty of Montevideo , which acknowledged the independence of Cisplatina under the name Eastern Republic of Uruguay . The treaty also granted Brazil sovereignty over
9261-471: The United Provinces' Congress had already decided on war. Fearing for his own safety, he left Buenos Aires and returned to Brazil. The Argentine Congress proclaimed the Cisplatina province reintegrated into the United Provinces on 25 October 1825, declaring that it would help the insurgents against Brazil by all means; this decision was communicated to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil by means of
9408-477: The United Provinces. After a series of initial skirmishes, they defeated the Brazilians at the battles of Rincón and Sarandí , prompting the Argentine Congress to proclaim Cisplatina reintegrated into the United Provinces on 25 October. In response, Brazil declared war on the United Provinces on 10 December 1825 and imposed a naval blockade on the River Plate . The United Provinces managed to occupy
9555-499: The Uruguayan countryside with the help of the local insurgents, however, its forces never managed to capture Montevideo and Colonia del Sacramento or penetrate deeply into Brazilian territory. Likewise, the Brazilians did not manage to regain control of the countryside or achieve a decisive victory in order to repel the Argentines, being defeated at the battle of Ituzaingó . Thus, the war on land reached an impasse. At sea, however,
9702-554: The Uruguayan patriots installed a provisional government in Florida, which was headed by Lavalleja. By now their numbers had increased considerably: Lavalleja, commander of the army, was at the head of 1,000 men. Rivera commanded an equal force in Durazno , while Manuel Oribe and Quirós commanded 300 men each. The Uruguayans then laid siege to Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo. On 15 July, Brazilian colonel Vasco Antunes Maciel routed
9849-429: The Uruguayan town of Frutuoso, the combined force then joining up with Fernandes just before reaching Montevideo. Meanwhile, the troops of Urquiza and Eugenio Garzón had surrounded the army of Oribe near Montevideo. Their forces numbered roughly 15,000 men, almost double Oribe's 8,500. Realising that the Brazilians were approaching and knowing that there was no hope of victory, Oribe ordered his troops to surrender without
9996-465: The absence of caudillos , dictators and coups d'état which were common across the rest of the continent. During the minority of emperor Pedro II , which led to the regency period in the 1830s, however, there had been several internal rebellions driven by local disputes for power within a few provinces. One of these, the Ragamuffin War , had been led by Gonçalves, as noted above. For
10143-517: The army of Urquiza, and the Uruguayans into Garzon's. The Brazilian army easily took the remaining Blanco Uruguayan territory, fending off remnants of Oribe's troops who attacked its flanks in several skirmishes. On 21 November the representatives of Brazil, Uruguay, Entre Ríos and Corrientes then formed another alliance in Montevideo with the objective of "freeing the Argentine people from
10290-521: The assembly point at Gualeguaichu. Urquiza and his cavalry traveled overland from Montevideo, while the infantry and artillery were carried by Brazilian warships up the Uruguay River . After meeting up, they marched west until they reached the city of Diamante on the east side of the Paraná River in the middle of December 1851. Eugenio Garzón and the Uruguayan troops were taken from Montevideo up to Potrero Perez by Brazilian warships and continued on foot until arriving at Diamante on 30 December 1851, when all
10437-416: The battlefield, the Allied soldiers managed to annihilate Rosas' troops in a fight that lasted for most of the day. A few minutes before the Allied forces reached Rosas' headquarters, the Argentine dictator escaped the battlefield. Disguised as a sailor, he sought out Robert Gore, the British ambassador in Buenos Aires, and requested asylum. The ambassador agreed to have Rosas and his daughter Manuelita taken to
10584-572: The belligerents fought to establish an independent nation, it has a similar recognition within Uruguay. The Thirty-Three Orientals are acknowledged as national heroes, who freed Uruguay from Brazilian rule. The landing of the Thirty-Three Orientals is also known as the "Liberation crusade". The war has a similar reception within Argentina, considered as a brave fight against an enemy of superior forces. The Argentine Navy has named many ships after people, events and ships involved in
10731-449: The besieged Uruguayan government of Colorados in Montevideo, and on 6 September 1850 the Uruguayan representative Andres Lamas signed an agreement with Irineu Evangelista de Sousa to transfer money to the Montevideo government through his bank. On 16 March 1851, the Empire of Brazil openly declared its support of Colorado government of Uruguay against Oribe, something it had been covertly doing for more than two years. This did not please
10878-427: The besiegers at Colonia. Three days later, Oribe attacked Montevideo at night, but was repelled. On 17 August, a new battle took place near Colonia del Sacramento, when colonel João Ramos, at the head of 300 Brazilians, fought against 400 Uruguayans, who, after a fierce combat, retreated with considerable losses. On 22 August, Rivera attacked the town of Mercedes with 500 men, being repelled. According to David Carneiro,
11025-525: The best positions for his army, choosing the high ground on the slopes of a hill at Caseros, which lay on the other side of the Morón creek. His headquarters were in a mansion at the top of Caseros. The Allied commanders were Marques de Sousa, Manuel Luis Osório (later the Marquis of Erval), Jose Maria Pirán , Jose Miguel Galán (who replaced Garzón after his unexpected death in December 1851), Urquiza, and
11172-568: The blockade on 6 December. Likewise, the American consul in Buenos Aires, colonel John Forbes , protested and accused Brazil of conducting a "paper" blockade for breaking the requirements of presence and continuity, since Lobo's fleet had made frequent returns to Montevideo for long periods. The Americans held the view that a blockading force should not only be near the ports, but also in sight. They also argued that Brazil could not legitimally claim to be blockading Patagonia 's southern coast when
11319-442: The blockade to 31 January 1826. Rodrigo Lobo's initial declaration stated that "all of the ports of the republic" were in a state of blockade. It caused different reactions from foreign powers. The United States view on blockades had been expressed before the war had begun, when Condy Raguet , the U.S. consul in Rio de Janeiro, wrote an extensive note to the Brazilian court detailing his government's position after being notified of
11466-399: The blockade, a negative economic cycle began, and production and trade plummeted. When admiral Pinto Guedes replaced Rodrigo Lobo, the Imperial Navy slowly began to strangle the trade from Buenos Aires. According to Vale, only two vessels managed to enter the city's port in the second half of 1826, ruining the country's finances. That year, customs revenues fell to 81,900 pounds from 429,300 in
11613-477: The capital, Montevideo . Defeated, the then-Uruguayan president Manuel Oribe , like the betrayed Lavalleja a member of the Blanco party, resigned his position as president and fled to Argentina. Rosas was determined to restore Argentine suzerainty over Uruguay and take revenge on Gonçalves. A series of interventions resulted. In 1839 an army led by Lavalleja, Oribe and Justo José de Urquiza, (Governor of Entre Rios)
11760-401: The coast, all the countryside, where Artigas' influence was still strong, wished for independence, with the locals disguising their intentions. According to Argentine historian Ángel Carranza [ es ] , the people and the press in Argentina "ardently clamored for the vindication of the usurped property". When news of the Argentine diplomatic mission's failure reached Montevideo,
11907-478: The command of viceroy Francisco Javier de Elío , remained loyal to Spain. The Primera Junta of Buenos Aires then set out to subdue Montevideo and Elío, who, finding himself without support from Europe, requested assistance from Carlota Joaquina , the Spanish wife of Portuguese prince regent John of Braganza . The Portuguese crown, which had fled to Brazil in 1808 after the French invasion of Portugal , then took
12054-715: The country's capital Montevideo as Oribe's forces began the Great Siege of Montevideo . The violence in Uruguay escalated, with Oribe's men killing more than 17,000 Uruguayans and 15,000 Argentinians during the conflict. Oribe's control of nearly all of Uruguay had been secured, enabling him to launch an invasion of southern Brazil, his forces stealing cattle, looting ranches, and liquidating political enemies as they went. More than 188 Brazilian farms were attacked, with 814,000 cattle and 16,950 horses stolen. Local Brazilians independently decided to retaliate, making raids into Uruguay which became known as " Califórnias ", in reference to
12201-416: The country's naval power. Moreover, ever since the United Provinces' independence from Spain, Buenos Aires had become a centre of trade, which, being carried out mostly by British, American, and French ships, totalled a yearly sum of 2 million pounds in 1825. It was, therefore, an obvious target. Following Brazil's declaration of war on 10 December 1825, admiral Rodrigo Lobo, commander of the Brazilian fleet in
12348-437: The death of Francia, this policy began to shift, and his successor Don Carlos Antonio López signed two treaties in July 1841. These were the "Friendship, Commerce and Navigation" and "Limits" agreements made with the Argentine province of Corrientes, which itself had broken away from Argentina under Rosas. Meanwhile, Rosas increasingly put pressure on Paraguay. He continued to refuse to recognize Paraguayan independence and placed
12495-544: The decisive victory of Buenos Aires over the Confederation at the 1861 Battle of Pavón . The bonaerense liberal leader Bartolomé Mitre was elected the first President of a united Argentine Republic in 1862. With the opening of the Platine rivers, Paraguay found it possible to contract with European technicians and Brazilian specialists to aid in its development. Unhindered access to the outside world also enabled it to import more advanced military technology. During
12642-432: The eastern section of the former Eastern Jesuit Missions and, most importantly, guaranteed free navigation of the Río de la Plata , a central national security issue for the Brazilians. In Brazil, the loss of Cisplatina added to growing discontent with Emperor Pedro I. Although it was far from the main reason, it was a factor that led to his abdication in 1831. Although the war was not a war of independence , as none of
12789-517: The establishment of excellent diplomatic relations. The Brazilian ambassador in Paraguay, Pimenta Bueno , became a private councilor to President Carlos Antonio López. A defensive alliance was signed on 25 December 1850 between Brazil and Paraguay, in which López agreed to supply the Empire with horses for its army. But Paraguay refused to contribute troops to fight Rosas, believing that Justo José de Urquiza (who had invaded Uruguay in 1839 and in 1845),
12936-499: The former Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata , created by the Spanish king Charles III in 1776 and which was extinguished in 1825. He aimed to build a powerful, republican state with Argentina placed at the center. The defunct Viceroyalty had shattered into several separate nations following the Argentine War of Independence at the beginning of the 19th century. To achieve reunification, the Argentine government needed to annex
13083-491: The former, despite still being in active service during the war, was in serious need of repairs. Brazil's naval policy became the subject of criticism for the government's opposition, which were repeated by foreign observers. The former, wanting to harm the emperor's ministers, described the navy as a "naval police", saying that, instead of the large and heavy frigates bought by the government, it would have been better to acquire low draft schooners, better suited for navigation in
13230-543: The frigates were no older than eight years, but the corvettes and brigs included ships from the Napoleonic Wars , such as Itaparica , Liberal and Cacique , to new ones built in North America, such as Maria da Gloria and Maceió . The ships of the line, Pedro I and Príncipe Real , built in 1763 and 1771, respectively, were old and in poor condition, with the latter serving only as a prison ship while
13377-474: The future Argentine presidents Bartolomé Mitre and Domingo Sarmiento —the latter both leading the Argentine Unitarians. These men formed a War Council, and gave orders to commence the attack. Almost immediately the forward units of the two armies began to engage in battle. The Battle of Caseros resulted in a decisive victory for the Allies. Although they started with the inferior position on
13524-530: The greater part of the 1850s, the dictator Carlos López harassed Brazilian vessels attempting to freely navigate the Paraguay River . López feared that the province of Mato Grosso might become a base from which an invasion from Brazil could be launched. This dispute was also leverage with the Imperial government for acceptance of his territorial demands in the region. The nation also experienced difficulties in delimiting its borders with Argentina which wanted
13671-439: The hydrographic conditions of the theater of operations: robust medium-draft ships, sailboats, well equipped, easily manoeuvrable". In Carranza's view, the Argentine fleet consisted of "some materially weak vessels, but that became respectable and effective by the strong spirit of their crews". The two navies which confronted each other in the Río de la Plata and the South Atlantic were in many ways opposites. The Empire of Brazil
13818-529: The independence of Cisplatina as the Oriental Republic of Uruguay . In 1816, the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves carried out an invasion of the Banda Oriental and, after defeating the local resistance led by José Gervasio Artigas , annexed it under the name of Cisplatina. After Brazil's independence in 1822, Cisplatina remained as part of Brazil. Wishing to gain control of
13965-408: The junction, they were to march towards Lavalleja and fight him before he could join forces with Rivera. The two Uruguayan leaders managed to join forces, however, and together they numbered more than two thousand men. With the rebellion gaining traction after the victories at Rincón and Sarandí , the Argentines began mobilizing for war. The Congress of the United Provinces approved, on 11 May 1825,
14112-418: The least repugnance to act fairly to the subjects of His Britannic Majesty, but no-one is ignorant of the mischief which citizens of the United States have done by taking advantage of the obstructions placed in the way of this squadron". The economy of Buenos Aires, which was based on the export of cattle, was dependent on the city's port due to the customs revenues it generated. In Roberto Schmit's words, with
14259-456: The locals, including various of the notable leaders who had previously fought alongside the Brazilians against the Portuguese, started to conspire against Brazilian rule, wishing to unite with the United Provinces and forming a secret society named Caballeros Orientales . The conspiracy was discovered by Lecor and some of the more prominent conspirators had to flee to Buenos Aires. Among the conspirators, who numbered more than two hundred people,
14406-585: The loss of Cisplatina, added to the internal political disputes surrounding emperor Pedro I , which ultimately led him to abdicate the throne in favour of his 5-year-old son Pedro II in 1831, ushering the regency period . Following the South American wars of independence, the region known as the Banda Oriental became a point of contention between the Empire of Brazil and the United Provinces after Brazil's independence in 1822. This dispute
14553-440: The main Argentine force commanded by Rosas himself. On paper, the two sides were well-matched. The Allies included 20,000 Argentines, 2,000 Uruguayans, 4,000 Brazilian elite troops totalling 26,000 men and 45 cannon (16,000 cavalrymen, 9,000 infantrymen and 1,000 artillerymen). On the Argentine side, Rosas had 15,000 cavalrymen, 10,000 infantrymen and 1,000 artillerymen, totalling 26,000 men and 60 cannon. Rosas had been able to select
14700-486: The main force, consisting of the 1st and 2nd divisions left from Santana do Livramento —around 12,000 men under Caxias's personal command. The second force, under the command of Colonel David Canabarro departed from Quaraim , comprising the 4th division, protecting Caxias' right flank. The third force, the 3rd Division under Brigadier General José Fernandes, left from Jaguarão , protecting Caxias' left. Canabarro's 4th Division joined Caxias's troops shortly after arriving at
14847-545: The majority of the Brazilian troops (about 12,000 men) under the command of Caxias, had remained in Colonia del Sacramento. The Brazilian commander took the steamship Dom Afonso (named in honor of the late Prince Afonso ) and entered the port at Buenos Aires to select the best place to disembark his troops. He expected to have to defeat the Argentine flotilla anchored there, but the force did nothing to stop him and he safely returned to Sacramento to plan his assault. The attack
14994-425: The money, or on the credit, of private individuals in the stores of the city, which were open to all alike, whether friends or enemies". Despite this, they were covertly supporting the rebels and, as time passed, it became increasingly apparent that the message was insincere. In Carranza's words, the insurgents' "crusade" was "generously supported by donations from Argentines and Orientals [Uruguayans]". On 14 July,
15141-495: The nations which [we] are closely connected with... It will not admit European influence over America." The Empire of Brazil was determined to extend its zone of influence over South America. The cabinet settled upon a risky alternative to resolve the complicated situation in the Platine region. Instead of undertaking a period of conscription to build up the Imperial Brazilian Army , which would have been costly,
15288-556: The navy's structure and appointed commanders José Zapiola and Benito de Goyena [ es ] ; these, in turn, established the payments, rations and uniforms, and also published privateering rules. Balcarce also sought to increase the fleet's size. According to Angel Carranza, at the beginning of 1826 the Argentine fleet numbered 16 ships: a corvette, two brigs, a ketch , and 12 gunboats. According to Alexandre Boiteux, upon creating their navy, "the Argentines did so not only in accordance with their financial resources, but also with
15435-401: The next two decades, sparked by territorial ambitions and conflicts over influence. Don Juan Manuel de Rosas became governor of Buenos Aires after the brief period of anarchy following the end of the Cisplatine War in 1828. In theory, Rosas only held as much power as governors of the other Argentine provinces, but in reality, he ruled over the entire Argentine Confederation, as the country
15582-401: The office that same month. On the night of 20 October 1825, the population in Buenos Aires took to the streets and attacked the Brazilian consulate shouting death to the emperor of Brazil and insulting the Brazilian consul, to which the Argentine government refused to give any satisfaction. A few days later, on 28 October, Frota wrote his last report to the Brazilian government, declaring that
15729-700: The old Spanish Viceroyalty had also included territories which had long been incorporated into the Brazilian province of Rio Grande do Sul . Brazil actively pursued ways to eliminate the threat from Rosas. In 1851, it allied with the Argentine breakaway provinces of Corrientes and Entre Ríos (led by Justo José de Urquiza ), and the anti-Rosas Colorado party in Uruguay. Brazil next secured the south-western flank by signing defensive alliances with Paraguay and Bolivia . Faced with an offensive alliance against his regime, Rosas declared war on Brazil. Allied forces first advanced into Uruguayan territory, defeating Rosas' Blanco party supporters led by Manuel Oribe . Afterwards,
15876-534: The opportunity to invade the Banda Oriental in 1811 . An army named "Peacekeeping Army of the Banda Oriental" was assembled and command was given to Diogo de Sousa [ pt ] , who had orders to help Elío. Diogo de Sousa then led the troops into the Banda Oriental, but a few months later, on 20 October 1811, Elío signed the Treaty of Pacification with the First Triumvirate , which had succeeded
16023-467: The opposite bank of the river in 1724, when Bruno Mauricio de Zabala founded the town of Montevideo . After centuries of wars and settling attempts between the two empires, Colônia do Sacramento finally became a Spanish possession by the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz . With the outbreak of the 1810 May Revolution in Buenos Aires and the Argentine struggle for independence that ensued, Montevideo, under
16170-403: The oppression it suffers under the tyrant rule of Governor Rosas". Shortly after the surrender of Oribe, the Allied forces split into two groups, the plan being for one force to maneuver upriver and sweep down on Buenos Aires from Santa Fe , while the other would make a landing at the port of Buenos Aires itself. The first of these groups was composed of Uruguayan and Argentine troops, along with
16317-587: The other provinces. Following the revolution of 11 September 1852 , Buenos Aires seceded from the confederation, thus dividing Argentina into two rival, independent states which fought to establish dominance. On the one side were the Federalists of the Argentine Confederation, led by Justo José de Urquiza. On the other, the State of Buenos Aires . The civil war was only brought to an end with
16464-462: The patriots' goal was always to fight on open field due to the superiority of their cavalry, but, whenever that was not the case, or when they were not in large numerical advantage, they were defeated. On 25 August 1825, in an assembly [ es ] gathered in Florida , the Uruguayans declared their independence from Brazil and their union with the United Provinces. The declaration's goal
16611-471: The previous year, and the price of imported commodities more than doubled. Bonds issued for public and private investments lost their value and inflation quickly went up, as the government used its metal reserves to finance the war, leaving fiat money unbacked. The population's purchasing power decreased and several businessmen were ruined. The United Provinces issued a decree on 2 February 1826 authorizing privateers to attack Brazilian sea trade. On land,
16758-402: The pro-war faction and later Viscount of Uruguai, was chosen as the new minister of Foreign Affairs. Soares made clear his intent to deal with Argentina without foreign assistance, announcing that the "Imperial Government does not desire or judge convenient an alliance with France or any other European nation related to the matters in the Platine region. It understands that they must be resolved by
16905-418: The province began to take up arms and present themselves to the patriots. According to John Armitage, a foreign observer present at the time, the insurgents were few in number, but superior to their opponents when on horseback, also having "a perfect knowledge of the face of the country". When news of Soriano's fall reached Lecor, he ordered Rivera to attack it. After leaving Colonia del Sacramento to confront
17052-699: The province of Rio Grande do Sul, entering into a period of economic and cultural prosperity. Soon after the Battle of Caseros the San Nicolás Agreement was signed. It was meant to comply with the constitutional mandate of the Federal pact that presided over the Argentine Confederation, convening a Constitutional Assembly to meet in Santa Fe. This agreement was not accepted by the province of Buenos Aires, since it reduced its influence and power over
17199-546: The rebels, Rivera was imprisoned by them without offering resistance, defecting to their side on 27 April. On 1 May, Rivera, whose defection was still ignored in the Brazilian Army, went from Monzon to San José, where he met Brazilian colonel Vicente Rodrigues Borba, who, having arrived there with troops from Curitiba and São Paulo , was to join forces with Rivera. Unaware of Rivera's defection, Borba went to meet him, at which time he and his entire column of 300 men were captured by Lavalleja. Upon learning of Rivera's defection,
17346-406: The region in 1816. The new invasion, led by Carlos Frederico Lecor , was instigated and unopposed by Buenos Aires, who feared Artigas. The invading Luso-Brazilian forces repeatedly defeated Artigas and his men, with Lecor conquering Montevideo on 20 January 1817. Artigas still unsuccessfully tried to resist, being finally defeated at the battle of Tacuarembó in 1820; with no hopes of continuing
17493-428: The region, and attacked the neighboring Brazilian province of Rio Grande do Sul near Quaraí . His influence was also felt in the north, inhabited by Brazilians. In the account of John Parish Robertson , the Banda Oriental fell into "the most unbridled disorder and horrible anarchy" and Artigas' name became "synonymous with bandit, murderer and thief"; this was the pretext now king John VI needed to once again invade
17640-579: The region, the United Provinces sent a diplomatic mission to Brazil in 1823 to negotiate a peaceful Brazilian withdrawal, but it failed. In 1825, a group of patriots known as the Thirty-Three Orientals , supported by the Argentine government and led by Juan Antonio Lavalleja , launched a rebellion against Brazil. On 25 August of that year, in the Congress of Florida, they declared Cisplatina's independence from Brazil and its unification with
17787-470: The resistance, he went into exile in Paraguay, where he spent the rest of his life as a prisoner of Paraguayan dictator Rodríguez de Francia . On 31 July 1821, the Montevideo cabildo , with representatives from all of the Banda Oriental, approved its incorporation into the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves as a province under the name of Cisplatina . The following year, when prince Pedro of Branganza openly rebelled against
17934-481: The ruler of the Argentine Entre Ríos province, secretly wished to annex Paraguay. Brazil's involvement in the Uruguayan civil war also began to deepen. Luís Alves de Lima e Silva , the Count of Caxias, assumed the presidency (governorship) of Rio Grande do Sul and the command of the four Brazilian Army divisions headquartered in the province. Beginning in 1849, the Imperial government directly assisted
18081-408: The severe economic consequences imposed by the Brazilian blockade of Buenos Aires, and the lack of manpower for a full-scale Brazilian land offensive against Argentine forces. There was also increasing public pressure in Brazil to end the war. All of this motivated the interest on both sides for a peaceful solution. Given the high cost of the war for both sides and the threat it posed to trade between
18228-418: The shallow waters of the River Plate. For John Armitage, the desire of "ostentation" and to show off an "exalted idea" of its naval power to foreign nations had led Brazil to purchase and build heavy vessels, unsuited for war in the River Plate. Armitage also opined that "swift-sailing vessels would not only have been more easily equipped, but also more appropriate to the actual exigencies of the country". This
18375-463: The three neighboring countries – Bolivia , Uruguay and Paraguay , as well as to incorporate a portion of the southern region of Brazil . Rosas first had to gather allies across the region who shared his vision. In some instances, this meant that he had to become involved in the internal politics of neighboring countries, backing those sympathetic to union with Argentina, and occasionally even financing rebellions and wars. Paraguay considered itself
18522-493: The treaty; Artigas left the Banda Oriental with 16 thousand people, in what became known as the Oriental Exodus [ es ] , and continued to fight against Spanish rule. In 1814, Artigas, who had fought for independence alongside Buenos Aires troops since 1810, finally defeated the last Spanish forces in the region. Despite receiving military assistance from Buenos Aires in the independence war, Artigas opposed
18669-525: The true intentions of the province's inhabitants. Likewise, after the Brazilian patriots defeated the Portuguese and entered Montevideo, the locals swore the Brazilian Constitution on 10 May 1824, by which Cisplatina would become part of Brazil. This situation gave off the impression the inhabitants of the province wanted to be part of the Empire. In reality, however, this was not the case: apart from Montevideo and other small cities along
18816-448: The two traditional parties Colorado and Blanco . The government of Montevideo survived thanks to the help of the British and the French, as well as the active collaboration of Italian warrior Giuseppe Garibaldi . This article about the history of Uruguay is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a siege is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Montevideo -related article
18963-432: The victory made Ribeiro too confident and anxious: after defeating Rivera, he marched to Montevideo in order to convince Lecor, who passively watched everything, to take the initiative. Taking advantage of Ribeiro's absence, Rivera decided to attack the Brazilian camp at Rincón de las Gallinas and take the more than six thousand horses guarded there. On 24 September, he defeated the small garrison and, when preparing to leave,
19110-480: The violence in western North America during California 's revolt against Mexico , its brief independence and subsequent annexation by the U.S. As conflict further escalated with the persistent support of Rosas for the Blancos, anarchy spread over wide areas in the region; with a growing threat to trade, the era's two greatest powers, France and the United Kingdom , were induced to declare war on Argentina and impose
19257-574: The war broke out in December 1825, the Brazilian naval forces in the River Plate consisted of the frigate Tétis , the corvette Liberal , 2 brigs, a barque, 12 schooners, and 8 gunboats; the same fleet that, under the command of Pedro Nunes, had fought against the Portuguese during Brazil's independence war and also against Artigas in 1820. This squadron was promptly reinforced by two frigates, Imperatriz and Paula , two corvettes, Itaparica and Maceió , one brig and other smaller vessels. In Jorge Toscano's words, when compared to Brazil's maritime power,
19404-495: The war. William Brown (known as "Guillermo Brown" in Argentina) is considered the father of the Argentine navy, and is treated akin to an epic hero for his actions in the war. He is also known as the " Nelson of the Río de la Plata". Brazil has had little interest in the war beyond naval warfare buffs. Few Brazilian historians have examined it in detail. The national heroes of Brazil are instead from Brazilian independence,
19551-546: The whole Gran Chaco region: a demand which Paraguay could not accept, as this would entail surrendering more than half of its national territory. The end of the Platine War did not bring a halt to conflict in the region. Peace remained out of reach in Uruguay, which remained unstable and in a state of constant crisis due to continuing internecine strife between the Blancos and Colorados . Border disputes, power struggles among diverse regional factions, and attempts to establish regional and internal influence would eventually spark
19698-613: Was Fructuoso Rivera, who was a colonel in the Brazilian Army. Despite having distinguished himself in the service of the Empire and having received several promises of career advancement, Rivera decided to revolt, but continued to disguise his intentions from the Brazilian Court. On 19 April 1825, a group of 33 men known as the Treinta y Tres , or the Thirty-Three , led by Juan Antonio Lavalleja, left Buenos Aires, crossed
19845-444: Was a major naval power consisting of 96 warships, large and small, an extensive coastal trade and a large international trade carried on mostly in British, French and American ships. The United Provinces had similar international trading links but had few naval pretensions. Its navy consisted of only half a dozen warships and a few gunboats for port defence. Both navies were short of indigenous sailors and relied heavily on British—and, to
19992-400: Was aborted, however, when news arrived of the Allied victory at Caseros. The Allied army had been advancing on the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires by land, while the Brazilian Army commanded by Caxias planned a supporting attack by sea. On 29 January, the Allied vanguard defeated a force of 4,000 Argentines led by two colonels which General Ángel Pacheco had sent to slow down the advance at
20139-581: Was also Gustavo Barroso 's opinion, for whom the Brazilian fleet was "abundant, but inadequate", as its ships "were not suited to our people, our service and the war against [our] neighbours inside their home". In turn, Toscano argued that these criticisms were unjustified, remarking that, for a country like Brazil, with a large coast and sea trade routes to defend, having a balanced navy with both large and small vessels would be ideal; Toscano also pointed out that John Armitage's remarks were "accepted without criticism in its nominal value by many historians". When
20286-517: Was assisted by José Maria da Silva Paranhos (later the Viscount of Rio Branco). Brazil signed a treaty with Bolivia in which Bolivia agreed to strengthen its border defenses to deter any attack by Rosas, though it declined to contribute troops to a war with Argentina. Isolationist Paraguay was more difficult to win over. Brazil made the initial overtures, becoming the first country to formally recognise Paraguayan independence in 1844. This soon led to
20433-432: Was divided on the matter; many notable natives of the province, such as Fructuoso Rivera and Juan Antonio Lavalleja , joined Lecor against the Portuguese, while others, such as Manuel Oribe , sided with Portugal; the towns and villages of the countryside, such as Colônia do Sacramento, San José , Cerro Largo and Maldonado , had also joined the Brazilian cause. Thus, once the Portuguese were defeated and left to Lisbon ,
20580-447: Was followed by the province of Corrientes, governed by Benjamín Virasoro , which sent the same message. Brazil encouraged and financially supported both uprisings. One of the reasons for Urquiza's betrayal of Rosas was a long-running rivalry. Rosas had tried to remove him from power several times since 1845, suspecting that the caudillo was nurturing designs for his overthrow. This was the trigger for military intervention, and Brazil sent
20727-526: Was hampered by local rebellions throughout Brazil, which forced the Emperor to relinquish direct command of his Army, return to Rio de Janeiro and bestow command of the troops on Felisberto Caldeira Brant, Marquis of Barbacena . The Brazilian counteroffensive was eventually stopped at the Battle of Ituzaingó . The stalemate in the Cisplatine War was caused by the inability of the Argentine and Uruguayan land forces to capture major cities in Uruguay and Brazil,
20874-448: Was informed that two Brazilian cavalry units were approaching the camp. Rivera then ambushed and defeated each of them separately. Once convinced by Bento Manuel to go on the offensive, Lecor devised a plan to defeat the patriots separately and ordered Bento Manuel to reconnoitre the countryside. Bento Manuel left Montevideo for Minas on 1 October with 1,150 cavalrymen in order to join forces with Bento Gonçalves and his 354 men. After
21021-565: Was inherited from the Portuguese and Spanish colonial empires, whose borders in the River Plate basin had never been settled. It began in 1679, when the Portuguese crown, which had always considered the River Plate as Brazil's natural southern border, ordered Manuel Lobo [ pt ] , the governor of the Captaincy of Rio de Janeiro , to found the fortress town of Colônia do Sacramento , in an easily defensible peninsula with
21168-482: Was quickly defeated by Rivera. At this point, Lavalleja turned his back on the conflict and played no further part in the civil war. Rosas sent another army of Argentines and Uruguayans in 1845, led by Oribe and Urquiza, and this time defeated Rivera's forces, slaughtering the survivors. Rivera was one of the few who managed to escape, and went into exile in Rio de Janeiro . What remained of Rivera's Colorados held power only in
21315-574: Was secured, and the planned Argentine invasion of Rio Grande do Sul was blocked. In a period of three years, the Empire of Brazil had destroyed any possibility of reconstituting a state encompassing the territories of the old Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a goal cherished by many in Argentina since independence. Brazil's army and fleet had accomplished what the United Kingdom and France, the great powers of that time, had not achieved through interventions by their powerful navies. This represented
21462-411: Was then known. Although he was one of the Federalists , a faction which demanded greater provincial autonomy, in practice Rosas exercised control over the other provinces, having become a virtual dictator of Argentina. During his 20-year government, the country witnessed the resurgence of armed conflicts between the Unitarians (his rival political faction) and the Federalists. Rosas desired to recreate
21609-527: Was to compel the Argentine government to take definitive action. Brazilian general José de Abreu, who had entered the province's countryside in June 1825 with 1,300 men, decided to take the initiative. He ordered Bento Manuel Ribeiro to march towards Rivera and attack him whenever he was found. Rivera, in turn, wanted to avoid any encounter with the Brazilians, but was found by Ribeiro, who defeated him at Puntas del Águila on 4 September 1825. According to Carneiro,
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