The Great Paraguayan War

or

The War of the Triple Alliance

(1864-70)

Also known as the War of the Triple Alliance, the GPW was the largest and most destructive war ever fought in South America. Using continued border violations as an excuse, Brazil invaded an Uruguay split by civil war. Paraguay, a supporter of the other faction of this civil war, invaded Brazil in return, capturing the Motto Grosso province without much difficuly. When Paraguay asked Argentina to allow passage through its land to get at the Brazilian army in Uruguay, Argentina refused, and when pressed, declared for the Brazilians: the Triple Alliance was formed.

Attempting to invade Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul province, Paraguay suffered a terrible defeat at Uruguaiana, and its army retreated slowly up the R. Parana chased by the Allies.

The Paraguayans halted at Humaita, and a series of bloody battles between 1866 and 1868 led to eventual annihilation of the Paraguayuan army. The war, now more a fight between Brazil and Paraguay, eventually ended in 1870:  with about 90% of the male population of Paraguay having been killed! The Paraguayans were fanatically devoted to their President, Lopez: their troops would often stand to be slaughtered rather than run away.

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