HistoryData
war1820

Battle between Portuguese and Oriental forces in Tacuarembó, Banda Oriental

January 22, 1820

The Artiguist defeat at Tacuarembó ended organized resistance in the Banda Oriental, securing Portuguese-Brazilian control over the region.

Quick Facts

Year
1820
Category
war

Key Facts

Artiguist forces engaged
2,500 men
Artiguist killed
500 soldiers
Artiguist captured
505 soldiers
Luso-Brazilian casualties
6 soldiers
Date
22 January 1820

By the Numbers

2,500men
Artiguist forces engaged
500soldiers
Artiguist killed
505soldiers
Artiguist captured
6soldiers
Luso-Brazilian casualties

Location

Map of Tacuarembó, UruguayMap of Tacuarembó, UruguayTacuarembó, Uruguay

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

The United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves sought to suppress the Artiguist independence movement led by José Artigas in the Banda Oriental. Luso-Brazilian forces under the Count of Figueira pursued the Artiguist army commanded by Andrés Latorre, aiming to crush remaining organized resistance and consolidate Portuguese dominion over the contested territory.

Event

On 22 January 1820, Luso-Brazilian forces under José de Castelo Branco Correia, Count of Figueira, engaged and decisively defeated the Artiguist army of Andrés Latorre near Tacuarembó. Out of approximately 2,500 Artiguist troops, 500 were killed and 505 captured, while the Luso-Brazilian side suffered only 6 casualties.

Consequence

The near-total destruction of Latorre's army dealt a fatal blow to the Artiguist cause. The defeat effectively ended significant armed resistance in the Banda Oriental, determining the victory of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves in the war and leading to Portuguese domination of the region that would later become Uruguay.

Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis

Side A

1 belligerent

United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves
Estimated Casualties6
Key Commanders

José de Castelo Branco Correia, Count of Figueira.

Side B

1 belligerent

Artiguist forces of the Banda Oriental
Peak Mobilized Forces~3K
Estimated Casualties~1K
Casualty Rate40.2%
Forces vs Casualties ratio
0CasualtiesMobilized
Key Commanders

Andrés Latorre.

Total Casualties (all sides)
1,011
Outcome
Decisive Luso-Brazilian victory; Artiguist resistance in the Banda Oriental effectively destroyed

Timeline Context

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