The Great Siege of Montevideo (1843–1851) split Uruguay into two rival governments for nearly a decade during the Uruguayan Civil War.
Key Facts
- Siege duration
- 1843 to 1851
- Defender government
- Gobierno de la Defensa, led by Joaquín Suárez
- Besieging government
- Gobierno del Cerrito, led by Manuel Oribe
- Inspired literary work
- The New Troy by Alexandre Dumas (1850)
- Years of parallel governance
- ~8 years
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Uruguayan Civil War, fought between the Colorado and Blanco parties, escalated when Manuel Oribe, backed by Argentine caudillo Juan Manuel de Rosas, moved to assert control over Uruguay. His forces advanced on Montevideo in 1843, initiating a prolonged military investment of the capital.
Beginning in 1843, Oribe's forces encircled Montevideo, creating a siege that lasted until 1851. The city, defended by the Gobierno de la Defensa under Joaquín Suárez, held out while Oribe's Gobierno del Cerrito controlled the surrounding countryside, effectively dividing Uruguay into two competing administrations.
The siege resulted in nearly eight years of divided sovereignty in Uruguay. It ended in 1851 when Oribe capitulated following the intervention of Brazil and Entre Ríos against Rosas. The prolonged conflict drew international attention, including from France, and inspired Alexandre Dumas's 1850 work The New Troy.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Joaquín Suárez.
Side B
1 belligerent
Manuel Oribe.