Battle of Ituzaingó
Near the Santa Maria River, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
What happened
The army of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata (Argentina) under Carlos María de Alvear, with Uruguayan forces, fought the Brazilian imperial army under the Marquis of Barbacena. Brazil and Argentina were fighting the Cisplatine War over the land that is now Uruguay. Alvear's army met the Brazilian army on open hilly ground, where his cavalry was strongest. The Republican cavalry pushed back the Brazilian forces, and only the Brazilian centre held, so Barbacena could not march on Buenos Aires.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Neither side could win the war outright. With British help in the talks, the war ended with the creation of a new country: Uruguay.
What came next
On 27 August 1828 the two countries signed a peace treaty in Rio de Janeiro, recognising Uruguay as independent of both Brazil and Argentina.
Did you know?
Among the things captured was a march reportedly written by Brazil's Emperor Pedro I; Argentina adopted it as the march 'Ituzaingó', still played at military ceremonies.
Timeline
- 20 February 1827The Argentine-Uruguayan army wins at Ituzaingó.
- 27 August 1828A peace treaty creates independent Uruguay.
- 4 October 1828The treaty is ratified in Montevideo.