Argentine War of Independence

Argentine War of Independence
Conflict	Argentine War of Independence
Partof	the Spanish American wars of independence
Caption	The Open Cabildo of May 22, 1810, in Buenos Aires.
Date	1810–1818
Place	Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, Upper Peru, Paraguay, Banda Oriental
Result	Patriot victory, independence of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
Combatant1	United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, Patriot Chile (from 1817)
Combatant2	Spanish Empire, Viceroyalty of Peru, Royalist militias
Commander1	Cornelio Saavedra, Manuel Belgrano, José de San Martín, Martín Miguel de Güemes, Juan José Castelli, Bernardo O'Higgins
Commander2	Santiago de Liniers, Vicente Nieto, Joaquín de la Pezuela, José Manuel de Goyeneche, Pío de Tristán

Argentine War of Independence. The conflict was a pivotal chapter in the Spanish American wars of independence, originating from the political crisis triggered by the Peninsular War and the capture of King Ferdinand VII. Initiated by the May Revolution of 1810 in Buenos Aires, it established local autonomous government juntas that ultimately sought full sovereignty. The war involved protracted campaigns across the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, into Upper Peru and Chile, culminating in decisive military actions that secured the independence of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.

Background and causes

The intellectual foundations were laid by the Age of Enlightenment and precedents like the American Revolution and the Haitian Revolution. The immediate catalyst was the 1808 French invasion of the Iberian Peninsula and the subsequent abdications at the Bayonne, which created a crisis of legitimacy. In the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, economic tensions, such as restrictive trade policies from Cádiz, and the political example of the Spanish resistance juntas fueled creole aspirations. Key local events, including the British invasions of the Río de la Plata and the mutiny of Martín de Álzaga, demonstrated growing autonomy and military capability against established authority.

Outbreak and early campaigns

The war formally began with the May Revolution of 1810, when a crowded cabildo abierto in Buenos Aires deposed Viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros and established the Primera Junta under Cornelio Saavedra. The new government swiftly dispatched military expeditions to secure loyalty, leading to the First Upper Peru campaign commanded by Juan José Castelli and Antonio González Balcarce. Early confrontations included the victory at the Battle of Suipacha and the subsequent defeat at the Battle of Huaqui. Simultaneously, campaigns were launched towards the Banda Oriental and Paraguay, the latter ending in defeat at the Battle of Paraguarí and Tacuarí under Manuel Belgrano.

The northern campaigns and the Army of the North

Following the initial setbacks, Manuel Belgrano reorganized the Army of the North and achieved significant victories at the Battle of Tucumán and the Battle of Salta, temporarily securing the northwestern frontier. However, further incursions into Upper Peru were repelled by royalist forces under Joaquín de la Pezuela at the Battle of Vilcapugio and Ayohuma. Command then passed to José de San Martín, who recognized the strategic necessity of a new approach. Meanwhile, in the northwest, Martín Miguel de Güemes and his Gaucho militias waged a highly effective guerrilla war, known as the Guerra Gaucha, which contained royalist advances from Peru.

The crossing of the Andes and liberation of Chile

This phase marked the war's strategic turning point. José de San Martín, appointed Governor of Cuyo, meticulously prepared a new army in Mendoza. In a monumental feat, the Army of the Andes, in coordination with Chilean exiles like Bernardo O'Higgins, executed the Crossing of the Andes in early 1817. The campaign swiftly liberated Chile, with decisive victories at the Battle of Chacabuco and, after a royalist counteroffensive, the final triumph at the Battle of Maipú. This secured Chilean independence and created a vital base for the planned naval expedition to attack the royalist heartland in the Viceroyalty of Peru.

Consolidation and international recognition

With Chile secured, military efforts focused on building a naval force for the Peruvian campaign. Under the command of Lord Thomas Cochrane, the newly formed Chilean Navy began to challenge Spanish control of the Pacific. Domestically, political sovereignty was formally declared by the Congress of Tucumán on July 9, 1816. While full international diplomatic recognition from major powers like Great Britain would take decades, the military victories and the establishment of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata as a *de facto* independent state were irreversible by 1818.

Aftermath and legacy

The war's conclusion did not bring immediate internal stability, leading to a prolonged period of civil strife between Federales and Unitarios. The conflict produced foundational national heroes, most notably José de San Martín and Manuel Belgrano, and established core patriotic symbols like the national flag. It directly enabled the Peruvian War of Independence and influenced the broader liberation of South America. The war is commemorated annually through major national holidays, including May 25 and July 9, and its history is central to the collections of institutions like the National Historical Museum in Buenos Aires.

Category:Wars of independence Category:History of Argentina Category:1810s conflicts