THE Paraguay War it was an armed conflict that took place between 1864 and 1870.
The countries involved were Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, which formed the Triple Alliance to fight Paraguay.
The combat took place because Paraguay intended to annex territories from Brazil and Argentina. Likewise, control by the La Plata Basin was at stake.
The Paraguay War would end with the victory of the Triple Alliance.
Causes of the Paraguay War
Paraguayan expansion
The Paraguay War happened due to the desire of the dictator Solano López to create the "Great Paraguay". For this, he intended to annex areas of Brazil and Argentina that would allow him to have an outlet to the sea.
Navigation in the La Plata Basin
For its part, Brazil asked for free navigation on the rivers that crossed Paraguay, as it was the only way to reach Cuiabá (MT).
Situation in Uruguay
Likewise, the internal situation of Uruguay has always been of interest to the three countries, as it was located at a strategic point, on the banks of the Rio de la Plata.
Brazil and Argentina supported the colorado, while Solano López, was a supporter of his opponents, the white.
Paraguay before the war
Before the war, Paraguay was an agrarian country, but it started to develop the military industry, due to the expansion plans of Solano López.
Since its independence in 1811, Paraguay has sought to isolate itself from regional conflicts such as the Cisplatin War, in 1825-1827.
Upon assuming the presidency in 1862, the dictator Solano López (1827-1870) continued the nationalist economic policy of his predecessors. However, he went on to support groups in Argentina and Uruguay that coincided with his interests.
One of these groups was the white, in Uruguay, that could allow the use of the port of Montevideo by the Paraguayans. In Argentina, Solano López allied himself with the federalists, enemies of then president Bartolomeu Miter.
Situation in Uruguay and the War in Paraguay
When Uruguay gained its independence in 1825, the country was divided between two political factions: white (white) and colorado (red). Brazil and Argentina, in order to maintain their influence, supported the colorado.
In 1864, the coalition between the two parties broke up and the colorado they plotted to remove the leader of this alliance, Bernardo Berro, from power.
Civil war begins in Uruguay. You colorado they ask for help from Brazil, which sends troops to Uruguay. They also have the assistance of Bartolomeu Miter, president of Argentina. For their part, the white they received the support of Solano López and Miter's enemies.
Due to military superiority, the colorado managed to defeat the white in 1864. However, Solano López crosses Argentine territory - without President Miter's authorization - to attack the Brazilians.
This fact would be the trigger of the Paraguay War.
Beginning of the Paraguay War
In November 1864, Solano López ordered the arrest of the Brazilian ship Marquês de Olinda, on the Paraguay River, which was heading towards Cuiabá (MT).
Despite being a merchant ship, Solano López suspected that there were weapons hidden in the holds. Soon after, it attacked the city of Dourados (MT).
The following year, Paraguayan troops crossed Argentine territory - without authorization from the Argentine authorities - and conquered Rio Grande do Sul. Months later, the territory would be retaken at the Battle of Riachuelo.
Triple Alliance Treaty
Therefore, the Brazilian government proposes to its neighbors, Argentina and Uruguay, a mutual aid treaty against Solano López.
On May 1, 1865, the Triple Alliance Treaty between the three countries involved in the war. Allied troops would be under the command of Argentine President Bartholomew Miter.
Major Battles of the Paraguay War
Battle of Tuiuti
On May 24, 1866, the Battle of Tuiuti was fought, which ended with a toll of 13,000 dead. Paraguayan forces attacked the Allies in swampy terrain and initially gained an advantage. Delays and poor distribution of weapons, however, favored the victory of the Triple Alliance.
Despite being victorious in this battle, General Osório left the command of the Brazilian forces and was replaced by the Marquês de Caxias (future Duque de Caxias).
The Tuiuti battle is considered the biggest field combat in South America.
Withdrawal from the Lagoon
In 1867, Brazilian troops tried to free part of Mato Grosso, which was in Paraguayan hands.
A column left Minas Gerais and headed for Mato Grosso. Suffering illnesses and lack of supplies, the Brazilians were defeated by López's troops, in the episode known as the Retreat from the Lagoon (MS).
Battle of Humaitá
Caxias was considered one of the most experienced soldiers in the Brazilian Army. He was called upon by the imperial government to organize and strategize to achieve victory.
In this way, he was responsible for a series of military triumphs that aimed to conquer the fort of Humaitá, captured on February 19, 1868. Thus, the allied troops were able to advance into Paraguayan territory.
December
Decembrada consists of three battles fought in Itororó, Avaí, Angostura and Lomas Valentinas, in December 1868.
Then, allied troops march on the city of Asuncion, winning the conflict.
End of the Paraguay War
After conquering Asunción, in January 1869, Caxias left the command of the war to the son-in-law of D. Pedro II, Prince Luís Gastão, count d'Eu.
The new commander had express orders from the emperor to capture Solano López alive or dead. So, faced with the non-surrender of the Paraguayan army, the Count d'Eu pursued Solano López and his soldiers.
The struggle only ended with the disappearance of the Paraguayan dictator in Cerro Corá, on March 1, 1870, who was killed for refusing to surrender. It was the end of the war between Brazil and Paraguay.
Consequences of the Paraguay War
The war left great damage in both Brazil and Paraguay, which was devastated. Approximately 80% of the male population was decimated and what was left were old people, children and war maimed.
The confrontation left the few existing industries destroyed, the land uncultivated and the population started to live basically from subsistence farming.
In addition, it lost part of the territory to Argentina and Brazil, and contracted a war debt with the countries of the Triple Alliance. Uruguay pardoned it in 1885, Argentina in 1942 and Brazil in 1943.
Regarding Brazil, the dispute cost thousands of lives and greatly affected the economy, making it necessary to take out several loans to maintain the financial balance.
On the other hand, at the end of the war, Brazil achieved freedom of navigation in the La Plata Basin and had a victorious and modernized army.
Argentina secured the territories that were previously contested by Solano López such as the province of Corrientes and the Chaco region.
England did not directly participate in the conflict, but was the only country to profit from it. The country expanded its markets in America, lent money to rebuild Paraguay and Brazil, which increased its debt.
Infographic about the death toll in the Paraguayan War
Curiosities about the Paraguay War
- At the end of the war, Solano López ordered children over 12 to participate in battles wearing false beards. Thus, most were murdered by the Brazilian army.
- In order to increase the number of soldiers, the Brazilian government instituted the “Voluntários da Pátria” in 1865. Free men were promised plots of land, money, pensions for widows. Slaves were offered freedom when they returned.
- The Paraguayan Army built a cannon from the casting of bells from several churches in Asunción, known as the "Christian cannon" and seized by the Brazilian Army during the conflict. He is currently at the National Historical Museum, in Rio de Janeiro. In 2014, Solano López's great-grandson asked the Brazilian government to return him.
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