Battle of Pisagua
Pisagua, Tarapacá Region, Chile
What happened
Chilean troops under Erasmo Escala, supported by the Chilean navy, fought Bolivian and Peruvian forces under Juan Buendía. In the War of the Pacific, Chile needed a port to land an army in the Peruvian province of Tarapacá. Chilean warships silenced the forts guarding Pisagua's bay. Troops then landed on the beach in waves and fought their way up the steep slope, raising their flag by 3 p.m.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It gave Chile a port to land troops and supplies, beginning the campaign that won it the Tarapacá region and its nitrate wealth. It is described as the start of a new era in amphibious warfare.
What came next
The Treaty of Ancón in 1884 handed Tarapacá to Chile. Pisagua remained a major nitrate port until the 1930s.
Did you know?
Chile's army and marines still mark the date of the landing as a military holiday.
Timeline
- 1810Nitrate deposits are found in Tarapacá.
- 2 November 1879Chilean troops land at Pisagua.
- 1884The Treaty of Ancón gives Tarapacá to Chile.