1756-1763: the Seven Years' War in Brazil

Here is that story!
------------------------
Map 49

PREV - FIRST - NEXT

-----------------------

The Prince of Argentina, Louis II Rohan has been in power since 1752. In 1756 he was 24 years old and aspired to be Frederick II of Prussia.

If it has three times fewer resources than Brazil, which can mobilize 180,000 men, it has a much better trained army of 60,000 soldiers. Its fleet of 10 ships is incapable of competing with Brazil's 45 units. The English promised to restore the balance of naval forces.

By entering the war, Louis II did not hope to conquer Brazil but to inflict defeats such that the power of Conan III would disintegrate.

In 1756 Louis II attacked and defeated the Brazilian army several times and captured St Paul. Louis II's plan seems to have come true since the Portuguese of Pernambuco revolted massively with the support of English agents.

But Conan III responded by retreating to the coast of Pernambuco, postponing until later (in 1761) the recovery of lost ground. Then he sent his fleet against Buenos Aires, Martim Garcia and Château Lagune in 1756/1757.

Louis II must divide his forces to retake Buenos Aires but does not receive the promised English fleet. He will wear out his army in a series of fruitless victories.
Brazil, under the iron will of Conan III, definitively took the advantage in 1759. It gradually conquered the entire Principality. The fall of Argentine in 1761 marked the defeat of Louis II. He retreated to the Andes and had to pledge allegiance to the Spanish in 1762 to save what remained.
This war was particularly fierce with 500,000 dead, including 300,000 civilians.