Causes Portuguese conquest of the Banda Oriental

the causes led king john vi of united kingdom of portugal, brazil , algarves, court had been installed in rio de janeiro since 1808, embark on invasion of banda oriental can divided general , circumstantial.

among first located in main place, former portuguese aspiration bring frontiers of brazil coast of rio de la plata (portuguese: rio da prata), arguing matched tordesillas line spain , portugal had divided world in 1494. reason, region of rio de la plata border area between spain , portugal, , such, highly conflictive area , theater of bloody battles on centuries, after american colonies became independent of european powers.

the río de la plata strategic because starting point of large river basin, fifth in world, goes heart of south america, near mining areas in potosi (current bolivia), through paraguay, mato grosso , reaching são paulo. additionally, banda oriental, in eighteenth , nineteenth centuries, area of major agricultural wealth, organized on old dairy , beef production, staple of african slaves constituted brazilian economic base

following line of historical conflict, buenos aires founded in 1536 prevent portuguese extending beyond río de la plata. during period between 1580 , 1640, in kingdom of portugal part of iberian union kingdom of spain under catholic monarchy , spain relaxed precautions on ill-defined borders between 2 kingdoms, circumstance portugal took expand territory of brazil, west , south.

in 1680 kingdom of portugal founded colonia del sacramento (portuguese: colonia sacramento), first settlement in uruguay, right in front of buenos aires, on other bank of rio de la plata. since several clashes occur , precarious agreements between portuguese , spanish in banda oriental , misiones.

portugal took troubled political circumstances produced napoleon s invasion of spain in 1808, introducing princess carlota joaquina, wife of john vi , sister of king ferdinand vii, captive of napoleon, best alternative protect interests of spanish crown. however, common struggle against napoleon bonaparte, invaded spain in order attack portugal, government disregarded continental blockade imposed him britain, led portugal avoid disagreement spain , occupation projects delayed.

the occupation of misiones orientales (portuguese: missões orientais) in 1801 portuguese troops, commanded bandeirante josé francisco borges canto , attempts generate protectorate during crisis of 1808, closer antecedents. crisis began when governor of montevideo francisco javier de elio came conflict viceroy of río de la plata, santiago de liniers, came political break constitution of junta of montevideo on 21 september year. portuguese monarchy took advantage of situation sending military , diplomatic joaquín javier curado offer, in terms restraining orders, acceptance of protectorate in banda oriental on argument preserve viceroy considered afrancesado . elio rejected offer @ first, course of political events 1810 may revolution in buenos aires allowed portuguese, on 2 occasions, attempt armed seizure of territory. times 1811 , 1816.

the portuguese invasion of 1811, result of request viceroy of río de la plata, francisco javier de elio, in support of spanish authorities against artiguist revolutionaries. invasion took place in context, mentioned, of may revolution, influence of same elío established capital of viceroyalty of río de la plata in montevideo, thereby becoming viceroy. revolution had infiltrated in banda oriental after cry of asencio. josé rondeau , josé artigas commanded troops that, after battle of las piedras, besieged montevideo on may 21, 1811. elio, despite being besieged , in considerable difficulty, managed block royalist naval fleet port of buenos aires , called portuguese. month later, in july, dispatched rio de janeiro south army of 4,000 men under general diego de souza. defeated in paraguay , upper peru, , stopped elio naval blockade, government of buenos aires sought agreement montevideo in exchange removing naval blockade , withdrawal of portuguese. artiguists rejected deal, left them helpless against enemy, , followed artigas in episode known oriental exodus. portuguese troops had not left eastern territory until august 1812 when, support of british government, buenos aires ensured compliance of 1811 armistice agreement 1811 through rademaker-herrera deal of 1812.

the context of 1816, state of war between orientals , buenos aires (which virtually ensured neutrality, @ least, neutrality of buenos aires occupation of oriental territory) , european context, marked absolutist restoration denied colonies right independence monarchies (which guaranteed portugal against hostile reaction spain ), proved ideal realization of old goal. main circumstances.

the ailing portuguese royal family had emigrated rio de janeiro in 1808 fleeing napoleon s invasion had nothing proud court concerned britain in 1816 expansionist aspirations. water had flowed under bridges , other winds blowing in europe , america. endless possibilities of large , rich country of brazil, economic development produced opening of brazilian ports international trade-decision of 1808 - , remoteness european conflicts resulted in bold idea of portuguese political leadership. convert brazil center of decision , permanent seat of kingdom , authorities. presence of portuguese government in america has substantially changed geopolitical vision of leaders. idea considered king, particularly after death of mother, queen maria, occurred in march 1816, mentally inhibited long ago. prince regent ascended throne under name of john vi. flamboyant monarch gave decidedly biased american policy. brazil seemed assure braganza first order global destination, little portugal no longer offer.

a decree transformed kingdom of portugal in united kingdom of portugal, brazil , algarves, brazil no longer colony , passed form kingdom of brazil, essential part of state. moment expansionist policy accentuated , idea of empire of brazil encouraged , supported. such policy did not coincide plans of britain, opposed british minister lord strangford, had strong influence on brazilian government. dispute culminated when king himself called london, in april 1815, replace diplomat, accepted immediately. these circumstances did not alter old dependency of portugal, , of imperial brazil, regarding economic policy of british empire. relative emancipation of john vi regarding british power had hitherto closely monitored allowed portuguese politics execute old plan invade , annex banda oriental. particular interest in project, had planters of rio grande sul, on 1 hand, aspired control overseas port of montevideo way channel business (the strong regional , separatist tendencies in region had highest interest in having own exit link international trade), , on other hand, concerned implementation of rural artiguista regulation, adopted in september 1815, established right of confiscation of lands of enemies of revolution disrespect property rights , phenomenon of rural populace dividing land, under banner unhappy privileged . in addition, under chaos prevailing in united provinces, declared independence after congress of tucumán, , radicalism of artigas, regarded banda oriental dangerous center spread of anarchy impulses of montoneros federalist , republican. no wonder marquis of alegrete riograndense warlord, has made maximum efforts project, , later prominent leaders of separatism riograndense, bento gonçalves da silva , bentos manuel ribeiro, have played leading role.

also, spanish , american emigrants sought refuge in brazil persuaded portuguese , brazilian king john vi, initiate military campaign on banda oriental. gaspar de vigodet, last spanish colonial governor of montevideo , spanish friar cirilo alameda promoted adventure hope that, once obtained victory, portugal return territories spanish rule. locals unit exiled fontezuelas mutiny led carlos de alvear, expected defeat of artigas, leader of federalism, , supplied portuguese-brazilian court information, support plans. anti-artiguists orientals (mateo magariños, josé batlle , carreó) made important effort in regard. particular importance nicolas herrera, former secretary of government of alvear deposed in 1815. herrera arrived in rio de janeiro in exile, disgraced , bankrupt, undeniable charm , talent enabled him persuade antonio de araujo y acevedo, count da barca, 1 of chief advisers of john vi. responsible portuguese-brazilian politics appreciated knowledge of lawyer in respect geography , political reality of province annex.

complicity of buenos aires

the main drawback of campaign of conquest lay in possibility united provinces of río de la plata react in defense of territory formed part of country since inception. not convenient portugal annexation of banda oriental resulted in difficult war, against provinces of la plata. according uruguayan historians washington reyes abadie, oscar h. bruschera , tabaré melogno, , argentine raúl scalabrini ortiz, information buenos aires neutrality first given manuel jose garcia, sent negotiate britain , court in rio de janeiro not support spanish empire, @ time when trying recover independent colonies.

according uruguayan writer lincoln maiztegui casas, garcia ideal , interventional unit used influence persuade portuguese king government of buenos aires not take military action keep oriental territory. regarding role of juan martin de pueyrredón, took office in 1816 supreme director of united provinces replacing alvear, maiztegui casas asserts although differed radical unitarianism of had commissioned garcia, though unitarian party not strong enough subdue federal movement, spread on provinces; pueyrredón, same previous rulers, sympathetic defeat of artigas, still considering him expression of barbarism. pueyrredón s attitude ambiguous against portuguese invasion, accounting 1 side implied in buenos aires struggle against federalism , artiguismo in particular, on other hand public in buenos aires massively opposed segregation of territory , british interests seeking creation of small independent state. ultimately, pueyrredón supreme director, collaborated invasion, not because did not declare war on united kingdom of portugal, brazil , algarves occupation of part of country governed, because steadily attacked provinces of federal league, inhibited cooperate defense of territory organized artigas. happened after of facts can not omitted, including intransigence of protector, artigas systematically , firmly refused recognize authority of supreme director of united provinces of rio de la plata, led him conviction artigas intratable. pueyrredón, expressing political line held differences predominantly unity party in buenos aires since 1812, , taken considerable concern portuguese invasion of banda oriental, no objective reasons ensure such attitude apparent. first, nicolas de vedia sent interview lecor, leading trade ensure invasion did not continue entre rios, had instructions keep on buenos aires strict neutrality . commissioner returned buenos aires letter of assurance not pass portuguese adventure in oriental province, obtained in conversation nicolas herrera. pueyrredón sent weapons , war supplies artigas (low volume, testimony of will; 300 frames , 100 pounds of gunpowder), issued loan of 200,000 pesos military spending , war, committee responsible organizing potential conflict.