War of Cisplatine (1825-1828)

Combat of Montevideo

The Cisplatine War presented innumerous naval combats between the Imperial and  Argentinean navies.

The conflict emerged when Braziian troops invaded Uruguay in 1816. Later Buenos Aires government raised a series of demands, asking the Empire to withdraw from the Cisplatine according to terms signed when Brazil was still a former colony of Portugal.   In April, 1825 the flag of rebellion was raised by the Uruguayan colonel Antonio Lavalleja. He was determined to give an end to the Brazilian supremacy along La Plata region. Believing that Buenos Aires was given aid to Lavalleja's forces, the emperor D.Pedro I declared war on Argentina on December 10, 1825. From this point,  many Argentineans and Uruguayans rushed to join the colors

By the time the conflict against Portugal was over, the Imperial Navy represented the largest naval force of Latin America.

The imperial government had added new vessels to the fleet. Part of this effort was made possible thanks to the quickly removal of Portuguese presence of the Brazilian coast. In the departure, some war vessels were left behind. Besides, the navy also bought new ships from European countries. The fleet was constitued of 94 war vessels with a firepower of 680 guns. Some of them were not in good shape to take part in the coming  conflict against Argentina. Another problem was the fact that the ships were not suitable  for navigation along La Plata region, since the shallow water made the vessels hard to maneuver. Anyway, the fleet was a remarkable effort to maintain a naval presence, taking into account that Brazil was made independent only three years before.

Defense of Man-of-war Maceio -  by Eduardo de Martino - Historical  National Museum (Brazil)

Meanwhile, the Argentinean Navy  was constitued of  19 war ships,most of them converted merchantmen. These vessels were equipped with 135 cannons of a diversity of types. Moreover, privateer ships had been comissioned by Buenos Aires government in order to disrupt the commerce between the Empire and the foreign countries.

At the beginning of the conflict the Imperial Navy blocked Buenos Aires by sea. The naval fight were marked by unconcluded engagements. The Argentinean ships tried to bring the enemy to shallow waters were the maneuver of the Brazilian ships were made difficult. On the other hand, the Imperial Navy tried to decide the naval campaign in one and definitive battle.

A series of engagements ocurred until the hostilities were ended, they were at most  just skirmishes with no victory side. Nevertheless, battles like Corales, Pozoz and Lara-Quilmes became known for the ferocity and  courage with   both sides  giving their best on those opportunity. The sea, however, remained firmly under control of the Imperial Navy until the war was over.