This war begs the question why? Named the Great War in South America it began in the year of 1864 when the small, self-contained nation of Paraguay decided it would declare war on Brazil, Argentina, and subsequently Uruguay for almost no reason. In the mid 19th century Paraguay was very similar to feudalistic Japan in that it practiced isolationism. The military dictator, Francisco Solano Lopez, governed the people and land like a Shogun. Despite being a dictator, Solano was not cruel to his people, but kept his self-reliant country separate from all others in South America. Paraguay was to be kept apart from others and foreigners were to stay out. Which goes to show you that the quieter a person is the closer they should be watched. When Brazil stepped in to help the fledging nation of Uruguay Solano hauled off and declared war upon them. Receiving much needed aid from them already Uruguay sided with Brazil. Argentina would become a third wheel when a few months later Solano declared war upon them also. Although as a military dictatorship Paraguay began the conflict with a larger, better-trained army, they were completely outmatched by fighting on both fronts. Within two years the entire Paraguayan military was destroyed and the entire nation was occupied by Brazilian forces. Still Solano kept on fighting. He carried out a costly guerilla war for the next four years which devastated his homeland; any man amongst his ranks who even mentioned surrender was instantly executed. Finally Solano was caught by a small band of Brazilian forces. They offered Solano his life, but instead the dictator pulled a sword shouting, "I die for my homeland," and charged to his death against fifty rifles. No one is sure exactly how many Paraguayans died in the war, but it has been estimated to be somewhere between 60-90% of the nation's entire population. It took well into the 20th century for them to recover.
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This war begs the question why? Named the Great War in South America it began in the year of 1864 when the small, self-contained nation of Paraguay decided it would declare war on Brazil, Argentina, and subsequently Uruguay for almost no reason. In the mid 19th century Paraguay was very similar to feudalistic Japan in that it practiced isolationism. The military dictator, Francisco Solano Lopez, governed the people and land like a Shogun. Despite being a dictator, Solano was not cruel to his people, but kept his self-reliant country separate from all others in South America. Paraguay was to be kept apart from others and foreigners were to stay out. Which goes to show you that the quieter a person is the closer they should be watched. When Brazil stepped in to help the fledging nation of Uruguay Solano hauled off and declared war upon them. Receiving much needed aid from them already Uruguay sided with Brazil. Argentina would become a third wheel when a few months later Solano declared war upon them also. Although as a military dictatorship Paraguay began the conflict with a larger, better-trained army, they were completely outmatched by fighting on both fronts. Within two years the entire Paraguayan military was destroyed and the entire nation was occupied by Brazilian forces. Still Solano kept on fighting. He carried out a costly guerilla war for the next four years which devastated his homeland; any man amongst his ranks who even mentioned surrender was instantly executed. Finally Solano was caught by a small band of Brazilian forces. They offered Solano his life, but instead the dictator pulled a sword shouting, "I die for my homeland," and charged to his death against fifty rifles. No one is sure exactly how many Paraguayans died in the war, but it has been estimated to be somewhere between 60-90% of the nation's entire population. It took well into the 20th century for them to recover.