- Argentina–Brazil War
Infobox Military Conflict
conflict= Argentina-Brazil War
date=1825 to 1828
place= Southern Brazil andUruguay
result= Uruguayan Independence
combatant1=
combatant2=)
commander1=
commander2=The Argentina-Brazil War (Portuguese: "Guerra da Cisplatina"; Spanish: "Guerra del Brasil") was an armed conflict over an area known as Banda Oriental or "Eastern Strip" in the 1820s between the
United Provinces of the Río de la Plata andEmpire of Brazil in the aftermath of the United Provinces' emancipation from Spain.Background
Against the background of rebellions in many parts of the former
Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata and the annexation ofRio Grande do Sul and theMisiones Orientales by Portugal, theBanda Oriental , in turn, revolted against Spanish rule in 1811, led byJosé Gervasio Artigas .The area became the Provincia Oriental in 1813 as part of a federal league of provinces, the
Liga Federal . The Liga was then invaded by Portugal in 1816 and then dissolved four years later, with its provinces beginning the process of integration into the United Provinces.In 1821, after the defeat of Artigas in
Battle of Tacuarembó and with the support of the local aristocratic families, the Provincia Oriental was re-annexed by Portugal under the name of "Província Cisplatina" giving the country a strategic position over theRío de la Plata and control over the United Provinces' main port.After Dom Pedro I declared the independence of Brazil, the Província Cisplatina became part of the
Empire of Brazil .The conflict
Intending to regain control of the "Provincia Oriental" or "Cisplatina", the Confederation of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata urged the peoples of the Eastern Bank (known as "Orientales" and lead by
Juan Antonio Lavalleja ) to rise up against the Brazilian domination, giving them political and material support.With both states economically dependent on the British Empire, the United Kingdom's war mediator
George Canning , had a very important role in the conflict and its outcome.After years of resistance by "Oriental" separatists, such as
Fructuoso Rivera and Lavalleja, the Congress of Deputies of all over the Provincia Oriental met in 1825 in La Florida and declared its independence from the Portuguese and Brazilian empires, reaffirming its belonging to the United Provinces. The response of the imperial government of Brazil was to declare war on the United Provinces.Emperor
Pedro I of Brazil replied by blocking theRío de la Plata and its ports (Buenos Aires andMontevideo ). The main base of the Argentine fleet was moved south, first to Ensenada and then toCarmen de Patagones . Brazil attempted to take Carmen de Patagones in 1827, trying to tighten even more the block on the Argentine foreign commerce, but the troops were repelled by the local civilians.The Argentine army crossed the Río de la Plata placing its camp near
Durazno , while GeneralCarlos María de Alvear incursioned in the Brazilian territory. TheViscount of Barbacena , in command of the imperial troupes, clashed with the Argentines at theBattle of Ituzaingó .Pedro I started the land offensive at the end of 1826, gathering the troops in the south of the country, mainly composed of volunteers and some units of European mercenaries. He had problems gathering an army to resist the Argentinian forces because there were constant popular rebellions in the provinces of the newly independent Brazil, including
Rio de Janeiro , its capital at that time.The lack of men slowed the response capacity against the "Orientales" now backed up by the
Argentine Army . The war took place as many smaller confrontations, with theBattle of Ituzaingó being the only battle of magnitude. Other battles include theBattle of Sarandí and the navalBattle of Monte Santiago .In 1828 Rivera reconquered the territory of
Misiones Orientales .Aftermath
Given the high cost of the war for both sides and the difficulty of business between the
United Kingdom and the United Provinces, conversations for a peace treaty started inRio de Janeiro . WithFrance and the United Kingdom as arbitrators, and under pressure of the British, the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata and theBrazilian Empire signed theTreaty of Montevideo acknowledging the independence of the Provincia Oriental that became the "Estado Oriental del Uruguay". The eastern section territory of Misiones Orientales was given to Brazil.In Brazil, the loss of the "Provincia Cisplatina" was another motive to the popular discontent with the government of Dom Pedro I, after a war that was already unpopular. Even though the "Guerra da Cisplatina" is not considered the main reason for which the emperor abdicated in 1831, it did add to the outcome.
The war resulted in the British Empire obtaining a zone of free commerce controlled by the United Kingdom on the strategically located Río de la Plata.
External links
* [http://www.geocities.com/ulysses_leal/Antecedents.html Military History of South America: Argentina-Brazil war]
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