Luso-Brazilian invasion
Encyclopedia
The Luso-Brazilian invasion of the Banda Oriental
, also known as the Portuguese Invasion of 1816 and the War against Artigas (in Brazil
), was an armed conflict between the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and the people of the Banda Oriental
and the Misiones Province
. The conflict took place in its entirety in the present-day territories of Uruguay
, the Argentinian Mesopotamia
, and southern Brazil.
had switched 7 times between Portuguese and Spanish rule between 1680 and 1777.
After losing Argentina in the May Revolution
of 1810, Spain was finally chased out of Southern-South America when its last stronghold Montevideo was conquered in June 1814.
When the Independence of Argentina was declared, some former Spanish provinces didn't join, but instead formed the Federal League
under José Gervasio Artigas
. This reflected the competition between the Unitarians
, who wanted a strong central government in Buenos Aires and the Federalists
who wanted considerable autonomy of the provincial governments.
In Brazil, there had been no revolt against Portugal mainly because after the invasion of Portugal by Napoleon, the whole Portuguese Royal court had been moved from Lisbon to Rio. On this way, Brazil became a "de facto' capital of the Portuguese Empire. Thus in 1815, King John VI of Portugal
created the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves with its capital Rio de Janeiro
.
John, in a strong and stable Brazil, now saw the chance to reconquer the Banda Oriental from a poorly organized new revolutionary state, thus eliminating a potentially dangerous experiment at his doorstep.
In his plans, he was supported by Spanish Royalists refugees like Gaspar de Vigodet
, the Reactionary
mood in Europe after the defeat of Napoleon, and even tacitly by the Unitarians
in Buenos Aires.
The Banda Oriental, now called the Cisplatina Province, became first part of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and in 1822 of the Empire of Brazil after its independence from Portugal.
In 1828, after the Argentina-Brazil War
, Uruguay became an independent state.
Banda Oriental
The Banda Oriental del Uruguay was the South American territory east of the Uruguay River and north of the Río de la Plata, coinciding approximately with the modern nation of Uruguay, the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul and some parts of Santa Catarina...
, also known as the Portuguese Invasion of 1816 and the War against Artigas (in 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...
), was an armed conflict between the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and the people of the Banda Oriental
Banda Oriental
The Banda Oriental del Uruguay was the South American territory east of the Uruguay River and north of the Río de la Plata, coinciding approximately with the modern nation of Uruguay, the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul and some parts of Santa Catarina...
and the Misiones Province
Misiones Province
Misiones is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the northeastern corner of the country in the Mesopotamiсa region. It is surrounded by Paraguay to the northwest, Brazil to the north, east and south, and Corrientes Province of Argentina to the southwest.- History :The province was...
. The conflict took place in its entirety in the present-day territories of 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...
, the Argentinian Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia, Argentina
La Mesopotamia, Región Mesopotámica is the humid and verdant area of north-east Argentina, comprising the provinces of Misiones, Entre Ríos and Corrientes. The region called Litoral consists of the Mesopotamia and the provinces of Chaco, Formosa and Santa Fe...
, and southern Brazil.
Causes of the War
Portugal had a long history of conflict with Spain over the southern borders of their South-American Empires. For instance, the city of Colonia del SacramentoColonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is a city in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the oldest town in Uruguay and capital of the departamento of Colonia. It has a population of around 22,000.It is renowned for its historic quarter, a World Heritage Site...
had switched 7 times between Portuguese and Spanish rule between 1680 and 1777.
After losing Argentina in the May Revolution
May Revolution
The May Revolution was a week-long series of events that took place from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a Spanish colony that included roughly the territories of present-day Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay...
of 1810, Spain was finally chased out of Southern-South America when its last stronghold Montevideo was conquered in June 1814.
When the Independence of Argentina was declared, some former Spanish provinces didn't join, but instead formed the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
under José Gervasio Artigas
José Gervasio Artigas
José Gervasio Artigas is a national hero of Uruguay, sometimes called "the father of Uruguayan nationhood".-Early life:Artigas was born in Montevideo on June 19, 1764...
. This reflected the competition between the Unitarians
Unitarian Party
Unitarianists or Unitarians were the proponents of the concept of a Unitary state in Buenos Aires during the civil wars which shortly followed the Declaration of Independence of Argentina in 1816. They were opposed to the Argentine Federalists, who wanted a federation of independent provinces...
, who wanted a strong central government in Buenos Aires and the Federalists
Federales (Argentina)
Federales was the name under which the supporters of federalism in Argentina were known, opposing the Unitarios that claimed a centralised government of Buenos Aires Province, with no participation of the other provinces of the custom taxes benefits of the Buenos Aires port...
who wanted considerable autonomy of the provincial governments.
In Brazil, there had been no revolt against Portugal mainly because after the invasion of Portugal by Napoleon, the whole Portuguese Royal court had been moved from Lisbon to Rio. On this way, Brazil became a "de facto' capital of the Portuguese Empire. Thus in 1815, King John VI of Portugal
John VI of Portugal
John VI John VI John VI (full name: João Maria José Francisco Xavier de Paula Luís António Domingos Rafael; (13 May 1767 – 10 March 1826) was King of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves (later changed to just King of Portugal and the Algarves, after Brazil was recognized...
created the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves with its capital Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
.
John, in a strong and stable Brazil, now saw the chance to reconquer the Banda Oriental from a poorly organized new revolutionary state, thus eliminating a potentially dangerous experiment at his doorstep.
In his plans, he was supported by Spanish Royalists refugees like Gaspar de Vigodet
Gaspar de Vigodet
Gaspar de Vigodet was a Spanish military with French roots and last Royalist Governor of Montevideo....
, the Reactionary
Reactionary
The term reactionary refers to viewpoints that seek to return to a previous state in a society. The term is meant to describe one end of a political spectrum whose opposite pole is "radical". While it has not been generally considered a term of praise it has been adopted as a self-description by...
mood in Europe after the defeat of Napoleon, and even tacitly by the Unitarians
Unitarian Party
Unitarianists or Unitarians were the proponents of the concept of a Unitary state in Buenos Aires during the civil wars which shortly followed the Declaration of Independence of Argentina in 1816. They were opposed to the Argentine Federalists, who wanted a federation of independent provinces...
in Buenos Aires.
Battles of the War
- Santa Ana (1816)Battle of Santa Ana (1816)The Battle of Santa Ana was a battle between the Portuguese forces under Alejandro Queiró in Rio Grande do Sul, modern-day Brazil.After the Portuguese attack, Uruguyan rebel leader José Artigas attempted to take the to Portugal itself by invading then Portuguese Brazil. The Battle took 3 hours and...
- Ibiraocaí (1816)Battle of IbiraocaíThe Battle of Ibiraocaí , was a battle fought between an army of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and the rebel forces of José Artigas commanded by José Antonio Berdún. The Portuguese were victorious....
- Carumbé (1816)Battle of CarumbéThe Battle of Carumbé , was a battle fought between an army of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and the rebel forces of José Artigas commanded by himself. The battle resulted in a decisive Portuguese victory, as Artigas' plans to invade Brazil were permanently ruined....
- India Muerta (1816)Battle of India MuertaThe Battle of India Muerta was a battle between the Portuguese forces under Alejandro Queiró in Rocha, modern-day Uruguay. The Portuguese were victorious....
- Sauce (1816)
- Pablo Perez (1816)Battle of Pablo PerezThe Battle of Pablo Perez was an encounter between the Portuguese forces under Bernardo da Silveira and the Artiguist forces of Fernando Otorgués in Cerro Largo, modern-day Uruguay.The encounter ended with a victory for the Banda Oriental....
- River Ibicuí (1817)Battle of River Ibicuí (1817)The Battle of River Ibicuí was a battle between the Portuguese forces under Brigadier Chagas dos Santos and the Uruguayan rebels forces under General Sotelo. The Portuguese were victories and inflicted very high casualties on the Uruguayan army....
- Arapey (1817)Battle of ArapeyThe Battle of Arapey was an encounter between the Portuguese forces under José de Abreu Mena Barreto and the Artiguist forces led by José Artigas, the independentist caudillo himself, in Salto, modern-day Uruguay....
- Catalán (1817)Battle of CatalánThe Battle of Catalán was a battle between the Portuguese forces under the Marquis of Alegrete, Luís Teles da Silva Caminha e Meneses, and the Artiguist forces of Andrés Latorre in Arroyo Catalán, modern-day Uruguay....
- Apósteles (1817)Battle of ApóstelesThe Battle of Apósteles was an encounter between the Portuguese forces under Francisco das Chagas Santos and the Artiguist forces led by Andrés Guazurary, popularly known as Andresito, in Apósteles, modern-day Uruguay....
- San Carlos (1817)Battle of San Carlos (1817)The Battle of San Carlos was a battle between the Portuguese forces under Francisco das Chagas Santos and the Misionero forces led by Andrés Guazurary, popularly known as Andresito, in San Carlos, modern-day Argentina....
- Chapicuy (1817)
- Queguay Chico (1817)
- Arroyo Grande (1818)Battle of Arroyo Grande (1818)The Battle of Arroyo Grande was a battle between the Portuguese forces under Bento Manuel Ribeiro, and the Artiguist forces of Fructuoso Rivera in Arroyo Grande, modern-day Uruguay.The Portuguese were completely victorious.-Consequences:...
- Santa María (1819)
- Queguay Chico (1817)
- Tacuarembó (1820)Battle of TacuarembóThe Battle of Tacuarembó was a battle between the Portuguese forces under the Count of Figueira, José de Castelo Branco Correia, and the Artiguist forces of Andrés Latorre in Tacuarembó, modern-day Uruguay....
Consequences
At the end of the Portuguese invasion, over 4000 Uruguayans, or 6% of the entire population of the Banda Oriental, had been killed by the invaders in three and a half years of bloody war.The Banda Oriental, now called the Cisplatina Province, became first part of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and in 1822 of the Empire of Brazil after its independence from Portugal.
In 1828, after the Argentina-Brazil War
Argentina-Brazil War
The Cisplatine War or the Argentine–Brazilian War was an armed conflict over an area known as Banda Oriental or "Eastern Shore" in the 1820s between the United Provinces of River Plate and the Empire of Brazil in the aftermath of the United Provinces' emancipation from Spain.-Background:Led by...
, Uruguay became an independent state.