Battle of Tucumán
San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán Province, Argentina
What happened
The Army of the North under General Manuel Belgrano fought a royalist army about twice its size under Juan Pío de Tristán. Belgrano was ordered to retreat south. But at Tucumán, where local people backed him, he disobeyed orders and stood to fight. His cavalry charged the royalist flank, and in the confusion the royalist army was beaten.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It stopped the royalist advance into north-western Argentina and saved the northern provinces for the independence movement. A few years later, Argentina declared independence in the same city.
What came next
Belgrano won again at Salta on 20 February 1813. On 9 July 1816, a congress in Tucumán declared Argentina's independence.
Did you know?
After the battle, Belgrano named the Virgin of Mercy (Virgen de las Mercedes) General of his army.
Timeline
- 24-25 September 1812Belgrano wins at Tucumán.
- 20 February 1813Belgrano wins at Salta.
- 9 July 1816Argentina declares independence in Tucumán.