Presidency .281862.E2.80.931870.29 Francisco Solano López

1 presidency (1862–1870)

1.1 role in beginning war
1.2 war of triple alliance

1.2.1 battle of cerro corá

presidency (1862–1870)

the throne: lópez , cabinet (from left right: gonzáles, sánchez, lópez, berges , venancio lópez).

after taking office, lópez opted continue of policies of economic protectionism , internal development adopted predecessors. however, broke sharply traditional policy of strict isolationism in foreign affairs favored previous paraguayan leaders. lópez instead embarked on more activist approach international policy. had, great ambition, strategically position paraguay enough represent credible “third force” in ongoing political , military rivalry between argentina , brazil on rio de la plata basin. lópez wanted paraguay compete continent s major powers in struggle spoils , regional dominance. in pursuit of goal lópez sought organize region’s smaller nations political coalition designed off-set power , influence of brazilians , argentines. lópez found eager ally in president of uruguay bernardo berro, leader country menaced various intrigues of continent s 2 great powers. berro , lópez conclude alliance , lópez begin massive expansion , reorganization of paraguayan military, introducing mandatory military service men along other reforms. under lópez, paraguay grew possess 1 of best-trained ill-equipped military in region. bought new weapons france , england failed arrive because of blockade imposed allies when war broke out.

see fortress of humaitá.

role in beginning war

lópez @ age 33, 1859

in 1863, brazil – did not have friendly relations paraguay – began materially , politically supporting incipient rebellion in uruguay led venancio flores , colorado party supporters against blanco party governments of berro , successor, atanasio aguirre. besieged uruguayans repeatedly asked military assistance paraguayan allies against brazilian-backed rebels. lópez manifested support aguirre s government via letter brazil, in said occupation of uruguayan lands brazil considered attack on paraguay. when brazil did not heed letter , invaded uruguay on 12 october 1864, lópez seized brazilian merchant steamer marqués de olinda in harbor of asunción , imprisoned brazilian governor of province of mato grosso, on board. in following month (december 1864) lopez formally declared war on brazil , dispatched force invade mato grosso. force seized , sacked town of corumbá , took possession of province , diamond mines, immense quantity of arms , ammunition, including enough gunpowder last whole paraguayan army @ least year of active war. however, paraguayan forces not or not seize capital city of cuiabá, in northern mato grosso.

lópez next intended send troops uruguay support government of atanasio aguirre, yet when requested permission argentina cross argentine soil, argentine president bartolomé mitre refused allow paraguayan force cross intervening argentine province of corrientes. time brazilians had managed topple aguirre , install ally venancio flores president, rendering uruguay little more brazilian puppet state. paraguayan congress, summoned lópez, bestowed him title of marshal-president of paraguayan armies (an equivalent of grand marshal, paraguayan gained rank in own lifetime) , gave him extraordinary war powers. on 13 april 1865, declared war on argentina, seizing 2 argentine war vessels in bay of corrientes. next day, occupied town of corrientes, instituted provisional government of argentine partisans, , announced paraguay had annexed corrientes province , argentina s entre ríos province. on 1 may 1865, brazil joined argentina , uruguay in signing treaty of triple alliance, stipulated should unitedly pursue war paraguay until existing government of paraguay overthrown , until no arms or elements of war should left it. agreement literally carried out. treaty stipulated more half of paraguayan territories conquered allies after war. treaty, when made public, caused international outrage , voices rose in favour of paraguay.

war of triple alliance


conference in yatayty corá.



francisco solano lópez, c.1864

the war ensued, lasting until 1 march 1870, carried on great stubbornness , alternating fortunes, though lópez s disasters steadily increased. first major setback came on june 11, 1865, when powerless paraguayan fleet destroyed brazilian navy @ battle of riachuelo, gave allies control on various waterways surrounding paraguay , forced lopez withdraw argentina. on 12 september 1866, lópez invited mitre conference in yatayty corá. lópez believed time right treat peace , ready sign peace treaty allies. no agreement reached though since mitre s conditions every article of treaty of triple alliance still carried out, condition lópez refused. regardless of lópez s refusal, peace treaty not mitre guarantee except on terms of article vi of treaty stated allies pledge solemnly not lay down arms unless common accord, nor until have overthrown present government of paraguay, nor treat enemy separately, nor sign treaty of peace, truce, armistice, or convention whatsoever putting end or suspending war, unless perfect agreement of .

in 1868, when allies pressing him hard, convinced himself paraguayan supporters had formed conspiracy against life. thereupon, several hundred prominent paraguayan citizens seized , executed order, including brothers , brothers-in-law, cabinet ministers, judges, prefects, military officers, bishops , priests, , nine-tenths of civil officers, more 2 hundred foreigners, among them several members of diplomatic legations (the san fernando massacres). during time, had 70-year-old mother flogged , ordered execution, because revealed him had been born out of wedlock.

battle of cerro corá


profile view of lópez, 1870

lópez @ last driven handful of troops northern frontier of paraguay. arrived @ cerro corá on 14 february 1870. 2 detachments sent in pursuit of solano lópez, accompanied 200 men in forests in north, received news of considerable brazilian forces closing in on him. caused of officials still lópez abandon him , approach allied force, under command of brazilian general josé antônio correia da câmara, readily joined scouts in order lead them lópez.

upon hearing this, lópez called last war council remaining officers of general staff in order decide course of action upcoming battle: whether should escape hill range or stay , make stand against attackers. council decided stay , end war once , fighting death.

the brazilian force reached camp on 1 march. during battle ensued, lópez separated remainder of army , accompanied aide , couple of officers. had been wounded spear in stomach , hit sword in side of head , weak walk himself. led him aquidabangui stream, , there left him on pretext of getting reinforcements. while lopez alone aide, general câmara arrived along 6 soldiers , approached him, calling on him surrender , guaranteeing life. lópez refused , shouting ¡muero con mi patria!, (i die nation), tried attack câmara sword. câmara ordered him disarmed, lópez died during struggle soldiers trying disarm him. incident marked end of war of triple alliance.