Battle of Arica
Morro de Arica, Arica, Chile (then Peru)
What happened
Chilean troops led by Pedro Lagos, under the army commander Manuel Baquedano, fought the Peruvian garrison of Arica under Colonel Francisco Bolognesi. During the War of the Pacific, Chilean forces besieged the Peruvian port of Arica, guarded by forts and a steep headland called the Morro. When a Chilean officer asked him to surrender, Bolognesi refused. The Chilean assault took the forts and the Morro in less than an hour, and Bolognesi fell.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended the Tacna and Arica campaign. Arica later became part of Chile, which Peru formally recognised in the Treaty of Lima in 1929.
What came next
The war moved on to Lima. Today a giant Chilean flag flies over the Morro, which also has a museum about the battle.
Did you know?
Peru honours Bolognesi's stand on 7 June as Flag Day, while Chile marks the same day as Infantry Day.
Timeline
- 7 June 1880Chilean forces capture Arica.
- 1884The Treaty of Ancón gives Chile temporary control of Arica.
- 1929The Treaty of Lima makes Arica part of Chile.