**Context**: In 1864, Paraguay, under President Francisco Solano López, decided to take on the Empire of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay simultaneously in what became known as the War of the Triple Alliance. López believed Paraguay could become a regional power and wasn’t too happy with us Brazilians meddling in Uruguay, so he jumped into the conflict… and then declared war on everyone else too.
What followed was, still to this day, the deadliest war in South American history. Paraguay fought hard but was massively outnumbered and outgunned. By the time the war ended in 1870, the country had lost up to 90% of its male population, most of its territory, and pretty much everything else.
In the final years, with the adults in army decimated, children as young as 10 were being pressed into service – some reportedly went into battle carrying wooden rifles or wearing fake beards to look older. This tragedy left such a deep scar that Paraguay’s Children’s Day (August 16) is still commemorated in memory of the children who died in the infamous Battle of Acosta Ñu, rather than as a day of celebration.
Whoaboy2 on
1945-46 saw a large influx of Europeans.
HistorianEntire311 on
I would say that the strategy was to be the Prussia of South America and hit fast and hard so that the war lasts as little as possible since in the long run they will end up losing very hard and ugly. But they forgot that Prussia never attacked all of its neighbors at the same time without strong allies.
ErenYeager600 on
Hey now tbf they had a good run against Brazil. It’s just that Lopez incompetence costed them the initiative
Possible_Golf3180 on
100% women you say?
John_Oakman on
Like the OG Napoleon, this Napoleon of the West took on a continent.
Like the OG he also got his ass beaten in the end.
9 Comments
**Context**: In 1864, Paraguay, under President Francisco Solano López, decided to take on the Empire of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay simultaneously in what became known as the War of the Triple Alliance. López believed Paraguay could become a regional power and wasn’t too happy with us Brazilians meddling in Uruguay, so he jumped into the conflict… and then declared war on everyone else too.
What followed was, still to this day, the deadliest war in South American history. Paraguay fought hard but was massively outnumbered and outgunned. By the time the war ended in 1870, the country had lost up to 90% of its male population, most of its territory, and pretty much everything else.
In the final years, with the adults in army decimated, children as young as 10 were being pressed into service – some reportedly went into battle carrying wooden rifles or wearing fake beards to look older. This tragedy left such a deep scar that Paraguay’s Children’s Day (August 16) is still commemorated in memory of the children who died in the infamous Battle of Acosta Ñu, rather than as a day of celebration.
1945-46 saw a large influx of Europeans.
I would say that the strategy was to be the Prussia of South America and hit fast and hard so that the war lasts as little as possible since in the long run they will end up losing very hard and ugly. But they forgot that Prussia never attacked all of its neighbors at the same time without strong allies.
Hey now tbf they had a good run against Brazil. It’s just that Lopez incompetence costed them the initiative
100% women you say?
Like the OG Napoleon, this Napoleon of the West took on a continent.
Like the OG he also got his ass beaten in the end.
Unlike the OG he’s remembered less fondly.
Argentinian here, were still sorry about it.
Had to be a fuckin Lopez
Well, dang it