Critical

Paraguayan War

Devastating war between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance that transformed the River Plate region.

Timeline
1864-1870
Duration
7 years
Region
South America
Record
Static archive

Historical overview

Overview adapted from a Wikipedia summary and stored locally on May 11, 2026.

The Paraguayan War, also known as the War of the Triple Alliance, was a South American war that lasted from 1864 to 1870. It was fought between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Argentina, the Empire of Brazil, and Uruguay. It was the deadliest inter-state war in Latin American history. Paraguay sustained immense casualties, but even the approximate numbers are disputed. Paraguay was forced to cede disputed territory to Argentina and Brazil. The war began in late 1864, as a result of a conflict between Paraguay and Brazil caused by the Uruguayan War. Argentina and Uruguay entered the war against Paraguay in 1865, and it then became known as the "War of the Triple Alliance".

Theater countries

ParaguayBrazilArgentinaUruguay

Actors

ParaguayBrazilArgentinaUruguay

Tags

interstate-warsouth-americastate-survival

Border context

1849-1871historical border era

National unification and civil wars

Civil wars, imperial rebellions and European unification wars transform the United States, China, Italy and Germany.

German unification redraws Central Europe. The American Civil War preserves the United States and ends legal slavery.

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