Battle of Paraguarí
Encyclopedia
The battle of Paraguarí took place on January 19, 1811, in Paraguarí
(Paraguay
), between the patriot
army led by Manuel Belgrano
and the Royalist army located in Paraguay. The battle would end with a paraguayan victory; but it boosted confidence in the local population to declare themselves independent from both Buenos Aires patriots and royalists months later.
in Buenos Aires
, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
, the government emerged from it, called Primera Junta
, invited other cities and provinces of the same to join the Revolution. The invitation, in fact, left no room for refusal, and every gesture in the sense of preserving the pre-revolutionary government was interpreted as hostile.
The main threats came from Cordoba, Upper Peru, Montevideo and Asuncion. The first two were defeated with relative ease, but Montevideo would stand firm in their opposition for four years.
Paraguayan governor, Bernardo de Velasco, refused to recognize the authority of the Board, as a result of an open cabildo
in Asuncion that decided to keep the loyalty to the Regency Counsel of Spain. Unaware of this, and assuming that the paraguayan patriots were stronger than they were, the Junta sent a small military expedition, commanded by one of its members, Manuel Belgrano, to unite the territory governed by Paraguay, through negotiations or through force. The issue was raised as it passes through Santa Fe, but the invitation to recognize the authority of the Junta was rejected.
Belgrano could enter in Paraguayan territory, overcoming a slight resistance in the battle of Campichuelo
, and did not face any opposition until near the capital. Thus, Belgrano was convinced that it would be easy to get to Asuncion and submit the province to obedience.
However, once in Paraguay Belgrano noticed that there was leaning on his progress, if not incorporated a single volunteer. On the contrary, militias and civilians retreated to join the army of Velasco that met on the banks of river Yuquerí.
During the night of January 15, Belgrano sent a vanguard of 200 men and 2 guns to surprise the Paraguayans, but the attack never took place. The next morning, the Argentine general was installed on a hill, from where he watched the Paraguayan camp. Although the enemy force at least exceeded theirs by a ratio of ten to one, decided to attack without exhausting the possibilities to negotiate.
Even if Belgrano had sent several proclamations to the Paraguayans, inviting them to act by the revolution, Velasco banned pamphlets sent, and the order was fulfilled. Belgrano considered that, to succeed, it would open the entrance to Asuncion. And if he was defeated, at least it was enough inside enemy territory to avoid being completely expelled. On the other hand, it is possible that he and his officers despise the combat capability of Paraguayans and overestimated the possibility of infecting their patriotic enthusiasm.
The patriots were distracted in looting the food in the Paraguayan army, so that only half of the force continued to fight, while the defenders were rearming themselves. To make matters worse, when Belgrano sent the reserve (about 120 men) in support of Machain, his men believed they were enemies, and the colonel ordered a retreat. Advanced sent over the chapel was abandoned by Machain Paraguarí in full retreat and taken prisoner.
Considering that everything was lost, Belgrano ordered to withdraw to the south.
Weeks later, Belgrano would definitely be defeated at the battle of Tacuarí
and expelled from Paraguay.
When, months later, Paraguay declared its independence from Spain, would make clear that none were willing to go to Buenos Aires. And when the successive governments of Buenos Aires is clearly likely to show the other provinces to deny equal rights, Paraguay affirm this trend in a final independence.
Paraguarí
Paraguarí is a city, distrito and capital of Paraguarí Department in Paraguay, located 66 km from the country’s capital, Asunción. At the 2002 census it had a population of 22,154.- Toponymy :...
(Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
), between the patriot
Patriot (Spanish American Revolution)
Patriots was the name the peoples of the Spanish America, who rebelled against Spanish control during the Spanish American wars of independence, called themselves. They supported the principles of the Age of Enlightenment and sought to replace the existing governing structures with Juntas...
army led by Manuel Belgrano
Manuel Belgrano
Manuel José Joaquín del Corazón de Jesús Belgrano , usually referred to as Manuel Belgrano, was an Argentine economist, lawyer, politician, and military leader. He took part in the Argentine Wars of Independence and created the Flag of Argentina...
and the Royalist army located in Paraguay. The battle would end with a paraguayan victory; but it boosted confidence in the local population to declare themselves independent from both Buenos Aires patriots and royalists months later.
Antecedents
At the outbreak of the May RevolutionMay 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...
in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, , was the last and most short-lived Viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire in America.The Viceroyalty was established in 1776 out of several former Viceroyalty of Perú dependencies that mainly extended over the Río de la Plata basin, roughly the present day...
, the government emerged from it, called Primera Junta
Primera Junta
The Primera Junta or First Assembly is the most common name given to the first independent government of Argentina. It was created on 25 May 1810, as a result of the events of the May Revolution. The Junta initially had representatives from only Buenos Aires...
, invited other cities and provinces of the same to join the Revolution. The invitation, in fact, left no room for refusal, and every gesture in the sense of preserving the pre-revolutionary government was interpreted as hostile.
The main threats came from Cordoba, Upper Peru, Montevideo and Asuncion. The first two were defeated with relative ease, but Montevideo would stand firm in their opposition for four years.
Paraguayan governor, Bernardo de Velasco, refused to recognize the authority of the Board, as a result of an open cabildo
Open cabildo
The open cabildo was a special mode of assembly of the inhabitants of Latin American cities during the Spanish colonial period, in case of emergencies or disasters. Usually, the colonial cities were governed by a Cabildo, municipal-type institutions composed of officials appointed by the colonial...
in Asuncion that decided to keep the loyalty to the Regency Counsel of Spain. Unaware of this, and assuming that the paraguayan patriots were stronger than they were, the Junta sent a small military expedition, commanded by one of its members, Manuel Belgrano, to unite the territory governed by Paraguay, through negotiations or through force. The issue was raised as it passes through Santa Fe, but the invitation to recognize the authority of the Junta was rejected.
Belgrano could enter in Paraguayan territory, overcoming a slight resistance in the battle of Campichuelo
Battle of Campichuelo
The Battle of Campichuelo was a battle fought on 19 December 1810 between revolutionary forces led by Manuel Belgrano and Royalist troops on the right bank of the Paraná river, as part of the Paraguay campaign of the Argentine War of Independence...
, and did not face any opposition until near the capital. Thus, Belgrano was convinced that it would be easy to get to Asuncion and submit the province to obedience.
However, once in Paraguay Belgrano noticed that there was leaning on his progress, if not incorporated a single volunteer. On the contrary, militias and civilians retreated to join the army of Velasco that met on the banks of river Yuquerí.
During the night of January 15, Belgrano sent a vanguard of 200 men and 2 guns to surprise the Paraguayans, but the attack never took place. The next morning, the Argentine general was installed on a hill, from where he watched the Paraguayan camp. Although the enemy force at least exceeded theirs by a ratio of ten to one, decided to attack without exhausting the possibilities to negotiate.
Even if Belgrano had sent several proclamations to the Paraguayans, inviting them to act by the revolution, Velasco banned pamphlets sent, and the order was fulfilled. Belgrano considered that, to succeed, it would open the entrance to Asuncion. And if he was defeated, at least it was enough inside enemy territory to avoid being completely expelled. On the other hand, it is possible that he and his officers despise the combat capability of Paraguayans and overestimated the possibility of infecting their patriotic enthusiasm.
The battle
After ordering that among his troops mass officiated at 3 in the morning on January 19 ordered the advance of two divisions, a total of 460 soldiers under Jose Machain, an hour later, the fighting was widespread. The attack came as a surprise to the Paraguayans, forcing them to abandon their positions. The governor Velasco fled towards Asuncion. But the cavalry, commanded by Manuel Cabañas withdrew without fighting and deployed on the flanks of the attacking army.The patriots were distracted in looting the food in the Paraguayan army, so that only half of the force continued to fight, while the defenders were rearming themselves. To make matters worse, when Belgrano sent the reserve (about 120 men) in support of Machain, his men believed they were enemies, and the colonel ordered a retreat. Advanced sent over the chapel was abandoned by Machain Paraguarí in full retreat and taken prisoner.
Considering that everything was lost, Belgrano ordered to withdraw to the south.
Consequences
The Battle of Paraguari was not a final victory for the paraguayan royalists. Belgrano still had his army. But the colonial government had been saved, and the province could not be compelled to submit to the government of Buenos Aires.Weeks later, Belgrano would definitely be defeated at the battle of Tacuarí
Battle of Tacuarí
The Battle of Tacuarí was a battle in Southern Paraguay between revolutionary forces under the command of General Manuel Belgrano, member of the Primera Junta government of Argentina, and Paraguayan troops under colonel Manuel Atanasio Cabañas, at the time at the service of the royalists.- History...
and expelled from Paraguay.
When, months later, Paraguay declared its independence from Spain, would make clear that none were willing to go to Buenos Aires. And when the successive governments of Buenos Aires is clearly likely to show the other provinces to deny equal rights, Paraguay affirm this trend in a final independence.