The Paraguayan War 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 combat Paraguay.
The fighting occurred because Paraguay intended to annex territories from Brazil and Argentina. Likewise, control of the La Plata Basin was at stake.
The Paraguayan War would end with the victory of the Triple Alliance.
Causes of the Paraguayan War
Paraguayan expansion
The Paraguayan War occurred due to the desire of the dictator Solano López to create “Greater Paraguay”. To do this, he intended to annex areas of Brazil and Argentina that would allow him to have an outlet to the sea.
Navigation in the Plata Basin
For its part, Brazil requested free navigation on the rivers that crossed Paraguay, as it was the only way to get to Cuiabá (MT).
Situation in Uruguay
Likewise, Uruguay’s internal situation has always been of interest to the three countries, as it was located in a strategic location, on the banks of the River Plate.
Brazil and Argentina supported the Colorados , while Solano López was a supporter of their opponents, the Blancos .
Paraguay before the War
Before the war, Paraguay was an agrarian country, but it began to develop the arms industry, due to Solano López’s expansion plans.
Since its independence in 1811, Paraguay has sought to isolate itself from regional conflicts such as the Cisplatine War in 1825-1827.
Upon assuming the presidency in 1862, the dictator Solano López (1827-1870) continued the nationalist economic policies of his predecessors. However, he began to support groups in Argentina and Uruguay that coincided with his interests.
One of these groups was the Blancos in Uruguay, who could allow the Paraguayans to use the port of Montevideo. In Argentina, Solano López allied himself with the Federalists, enemies of then-President Bartolomeu Mitre.
Situation in Uruguay and the Paraguayan War
When Uruguay gained its independence in 1825, the country was divided between two political factions: blancos (whites) and colorados (reds). Brazil and Argentina, in order to maintain their influence, supported the colorados .
In 1864, the coalition between the two parties fell apart and the Colorados plotted to remove the leader of this alliance, Bernardo Berro, from power.
The civil war begins in Uruguay. The Colorados ask for help from Brazil, which sends troops to Uruguay. They also receive support from Bartolomeu Mitre, president of Argentina. The Blancos , for their part, receive support from Solano López and Mitre’s enemies.
Due to their military superiority, the Colorados managed to defeat the Blancos in 1864. However, Solano López crossed Argentine territory – without authorization from President Mitre – to attack the Brazilians.
This fact would be the trigger for the Paraguayan War.
Outbreak of the Paraguayan War
In November 1864, Solano López ordered the capture 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, he attacked the city of Dourados (MT).
The following year, Paraguayan troops crossed into Argentine territory – without authorization from the Argentine authorities – and conquered Rio Grande do Sul. Months later, the territory would be retaken in the Battle of Riachuelo.
Treaty of the Triple Alliance
In view of this, the Brazilian government proposes to its neighbors, Argentina and Uruguay, a mutual aid treaty against Solano López.
On May 1, 1865, the Treaty of the Triple Alliance was formalized between the three countries involved in the war. The allied troops would be under the command of Argentine President Bartolomeu Mitre.
Main Battles of the Paraguayan War
Battle of Tuiuti
On May 24, 1866, the Battle of Tuiuti took place, resulting in 13,000 deaths. Paraguayan forces attacked the allies in marshy 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 command of the Brazilian forces and was replaced by the Marquis of Caxias (future Duke of Caxias).
The Battle of Tuiuti is considered the largest pitched battle in South America.
Lagoon Withdrawal
In 1867, Brazilian troops attempted to liberate part of Mato Grosso, which was in Paraguayan hands.
A column left Minas Gerais and headed towards Mato Grosso. Suffering from disease and lack of supplies, the Brazilians were defeated by López’s troops, in the episode known as the Retreat from Laguna (MS).
Battle of Humaitá
Caxias was considered one of the most experienced soldiers in the Brazilian Army. He was called by the imperial government to organize and outline a strategy to achieve victory.
In this way, he was responsible for a series of military triumphs that aimed to conquer the Humaitá fort, captured on February 19, 1868. Thus, the allied troops were able to advance into Paraguayan territory.
Decembered
The December battle consisted of three battles fought in Itororó, Avaí, Angostura and Lomas Valentinas, in December 1868.
Then, the allied troops march on the city of Asunción, winning the conflict.
End of the Paraguayan War
After conquering Asunción, in January 1869, Caxias left command of the war to the son-in-law of D. Pedro II, Prince Luís Gastão, Count of Eu.
The new commander had express orders from the emperor to capture Solano López dead or alive. Thus, given the non-surrender of the Paraguayan army, the Count d’Eu pursued Solano López and his soldiers.
The fighting 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 Paraguayan War
The war left great damage in both Brazil and Paraguay, which was devastated. Approximately 80% of the male population was decimated and what remained were old people, children and war-mutilated people.
The conflict left the few existing industries destroyed, the land uncultivated and the population living basically on subsistence farming.
In addition, it lost part of its territory to Argentina and Brazil, and contracted a war debt with the countries of the Triple Alliance. Uruguay forgave it in 1885, Argentina in 1942 and Brazil in 1943.
In relation to Brazil, the conflict cost thousands of lives and greatly affected the economy, making it necessary to take out several loans to maintain financial balance.
On the other hand, at the end of the war, Brazil achieved freedom of navigation in the Plata Basin and had a victorious and modernized army.
Argentina secured territories that were previously contested by Solano López, such as the province of Corrientes and the Chaco region.
England did not participate directly in the conflict, but it was the only country to profit from it. The country expanded its markets in America, lent money for the reconstruction of Paraguay and for Brazil, which increased its debt.
Infographic on the death toll in the Paraguayan War
Curiosities about the Paraguayan War
- At the end of the war, Solano López ordered that children over the age of 12 participate in battles wearing false beards. As a result, most of them were murdered by the Brazilian army.
- In order to increase the number of soldiers, the Brazilian government established the “Volunteers of the Fatherland” in 1865. Free men were promised plots of land, money, and pensions for widows. Slaves were offered freedom upon their return.
- The Paraguayan Army built a cannon from the foundry bells of several churches in Asunción, known as the “Christian cannon” and seized by the Brazilian Army during the conflict. It is currently in the National History Museum in Rio de Janeiro. In 2014, Solano López’s great-grandson asked the Brazilian government to return it