Triple Alliance, War of the (redirected from Paraguayan War)

Triple Alliance, War of the, 1865–70, fought between Paraguay on one side and an alliance of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay on the other. Brazil's military reprisals for injuries to Brazilian subjects in Uruguay's civil war brought a declaration of war against Brazil from Francisco Solano López, Paraguayan dictator, who favored the Blanco regime in Uruguay. Imprudently, he also declared war on Argentina after Bartolomé Mitre refused to allow Paraguayan troops to cross Argentine territory. A secret alliance, made by Brazil and Argentina with Gen. Venancio Flores of the Colorado faction (traditional enemies of the Blancos), brought Uruguay into the war. The heroic defense of Paraguay against powerful invaders lasted five years until the final stand at Cerro Corá, where the entire populous rallied around López. By the end of the war Paraguay was devastated and a considerable part of its male population killed. The war was the brutal consequence of López's provocations as well as of the abusive aggressiveness of the larger powers. It nevertheless opened the way for a development of constitutional government in Paraguay.

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Triple Alliance, War of the

 or Paraguayan War

(1864/65–70) Bloodiest conflict in Latin American history, fought between Paraguay and the allied countries of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. The Paraguayan dictator Francisco Solano López (1827–70), objecting to Brazil's interference in the politics of neighbouring Uruguay, declared war on Brazil in 1864. The next year Argentina organized the Triple Alliance with Brazil and Uruguay. After three years of fighting, the allies annihilated the Paraguayan forces, but Solano López carried on a guerrilla war until he was killed. Paraguay was devastated by the war; its population was reduced by half, and territory covering some 55,000 sq mi (140,000 sq km) was annexed by Brazil and Argentina.

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Triple Alliance, War of the 

(in Russian, Paraguayan War), a war of aggression waged by Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay against Paraguay between 1864 and 1870. Great Britain, France, and the USA—seeking unhindered access for their capital in Paraguay—furthered the unleashing of a war that had long been planned by Brazilian slaveowners and the Argentinian bourgeois landowning elite.

The War of the Triple Alliance was preceded by the intervention of Brazil and Argentina into Uruguay, with Uruguay appealing to Paraguay for assistance. Paraguay feared that it would be isolated from the Atlantic Ocean if Brazil annexed Uruguay’s territory and tried to resolve the Brazil-Uruguay conflict peacefully; however, in November 1864, it was drawn into the war. An alliance was soon formed against Paraguay by Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay; Uruguay joined the alliance after it had been occupied by Brazil.

Until May 1866 the fighting took place in Brazil and Argentina; then the Paraguayans defended themselves on their own territory. The allies defeated the Paraguayan Army at Humaitá (July 1868), Pykysyry (December 1868), and Cêrro Corá (March 1870). Contributing to the allies’ victories were their numerical and technological superiority and the aid of Great Britain, as well as a conspiracy of Paraguayan reactionaries against the national government of F. S. López. The country was occupied by allied troops, approximately one-half of its territory was annexed, four-fifths of the population was wiped out, and power was assumed by reactionary landowners and members of the bourgeoisie linked with foreign capital.