Charrua
Encyclopedia
The Charrúa were an indigenous
people of southern South America
in the area today known as Uruguay
and southern Brazil
. They were a nomadic people that sustained themselves through fishing and foraging. They did not build permanent structures, living instead in tents.
Charrúa people are believed to have killed Spanish
explorer Juan Díaz de Solís
during his 1515 voyage up the Río de la Plata
. Following the arrival of Europe
an settlers, the Charrúa were progressively killed and integrated into the prevailing colonial cultures. Most of the remaining ones were massacred at Salsipuedes (literally "Get-out-if-you-can") Creek in 1831 by a group led by Bernabé Rivera, nephew of Fructuoso Rivera
who later became the first president of Uruguay, after they were invited to a meeting and ambushed. Only a few escaped this massacre. Four of them were taken to France
in 1833, including Tacuabé
, to whom there is a monument in Montevideo
, Uruguay.
Not much is known about the Charrúa due to their eradication at an early time in Uruguay
an history. The only surviving documents that concern the Charrúa are those of Spanish explorers.
Uruguayans refer to themselves as "charrúas" when in the context of a competition or battle against a foreign contingent. In situations in which Uruguayans display bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, the expression "garra charrúa" (Charrúan rage) is used to refer to victory in the face of certain defeat.
After Salsipuedes, the Charrúa effectively ceased to exist as a people. It is said that there are no full-blooded Charrúa remaining, though physical traces may be found among Uruguay's minority mestizo population. According to the Argentine census of 2001, there are 676 Charrúa (the majority of whom are of mixed ancestry) living in the province of Entre Ríos
.
The Uruguay national football team
is nicknamed "Los Charrúas" and a local rugby side in Porto Alegre
are also named after the nation (see: Charrua Rugby Clube
)
Charrua is also a name of a Brazilian military tank for troops transportation.
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
people of southern South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
in the area today known as Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
and southern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. They were a nomadic people that sustained themselves through fishing and foraging. They did not build permanent structures, living instead in tents.
Charrúa people are believed to have killed Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
explorer Juan Díaz de Solís
Juan Díaz de Solís
Juan Díaz de Solís was a Spanish navigator and explorer.Díaz de Solís was probably born in Lebrija, Seville, although some other authors argue that his birth may have actually taken place in Portugal to an Andalusian emigree family....
during his 1515 voyage up the Río de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
. Following the arrival of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an settlers, the Charrúa were progressively killed and integrated into the prevailing colonial cultures. Most of the remaining ones were massacred at Salsipuedes (literally "Get-out-if-you-can") Creek in 1831 by a group led by Bernabé Rivera, nephew of Fructuoso Rivera
Fructuoso Rivera
José Fructuoso Rivera y Toscana was an Uruguayan general and patriot who assisted in the efforts to force Brazilians out of the Banda Oriental.-Founder of Colorado Party and President of Uruguay:...
who later became the first president of Uruguay, after they were invited to a meeting and ambushed. Only a few escaped this massacre. Four of them were taken to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1833, including Tacuabé
Tacuabe
Tacuabé was a Charrúa native from the region now known as Uruguay.After the European conquest and colonization, the Charrúa population declined at the hands of local authorities, being practically exterminated by 1830...
, to whom there is a monument in Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Uruguay.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an history. The only surviving documents that concern the Charrúa are those of Spanish explorers.
Uruguayans refer to themselves as "charrúas" when in the context of a competition or battle against a foreign contingent. In situations in which Uruguayans display bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, the expression "garra charrúa" (Charrúan rage) is used to refer to victory in the face of certain defeat.
After Salsipuedes, the Charrúa effectively ceased to exist as a people. It is said that there are no full-blooded Charrúa remaining, though physical traces may be found among Uruguay's minority mestizo population. According to the Argentine census of 2001, there are 676 Charrúa (the majority of whom are of mixed ancestry) living in the province of Entre Ríos
Entre Ríos Province
Entre Ríos is a northeastern province of Argentina, located in the Mesopotamia region. It borders the provinces of Buenos Aires , Corrientes and Santa Fe , and Uruguay in the east....
.
The Uruguay national football team
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
is nicknamed "Los Charrúas" and a local rugby side in Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre is the tenth most populous municipality in Brazil, with 1,409,939 inhabitants, and the centre of Brazil's fourth largest metropolitan area . It is also the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian...
are also named after the nation (see: Charrua Rugby Clube
Charrua Rugby Clube
The Charrua Rugby Clube is the first Rugby Union club in the city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is the largest club in the state and competes in junior, male and female competitions.- History :...
)
Charrua is also a name of a Brazilian military tank for troops transportation.