Battle of Catalán facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Catalán
Part of the Portuguese conquest of the Banda Oriental
Date 4 January 1817 Location Arroyo Catalán, Banda Oriental (present-day Uruguay) Result Luso-Brazilian victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves	Federal League
Commanders and leaders
Marquis of Alegrete Joaquim X. Curado	Andrés Latorre
Strength
2,500 11 cannons	3,400 2 cannons
Casualties and losses
243: 79 killed 164 wounded	1,190: 900 killed 290 captured 2 cannons

The Battle of Catalán was an important fight that happened on January 4, 1817. It took place in a place called Arroyo Catalán, which is now part of Uruguay. This battle was part of a bigger conflict where Portuguese and Brazilian forces were trying to take control of the region known as the Banda Oriental.

Who Fought in the Battle?

The battle was between two main groups. On one side were the Luso-Brazilian forces. "Luso" refers to Portugal, and "Brazilian" refers to Brazil, which was part of the Portuguese Empire at the time. Their leader was the Marquis of Alegrete, a Portuguese commander.

On the other side were the artiguistas. These were soldiers loyal to José Gervasio Artigas, a famous leader who fought for independence and self-rule in the region. Their commander in this battle was Andrés Latorre.

The Luso-Brazilian Forces

The Luso-Brazilian army was quite strong. They had about 2,500 soldiers in total.

• About 1,200 of these soldiers were from the São Paulo Legion, which included infantry (soldiers who fight on foot), cavalry (soldiers who fight on horseback), and artillery (soldiers who use cannons).
• Another 1,300 soldiers were cavalry from the São Pedro do Rio Grande do Sul province.
• They also brought 11 cannons, which are powerful weapons.

The Artiguista Forces

The artiguistas had a larger number of soldiers, around 3,400. However, they had fewer cannons, only 2.

What Happened During the Battle?

The battle was a fierce fight. The Luso-Brazilian forces, with their strong artillery, managed to defeat the artiguistas.

What Was the Result?

The Battle of Catalán ended with a clear victory for the Luso-Brazilian forces.

• The Luso-Brazilian side had 243 casualties (soldiers killed or wounded).
• The artiguistas suffered much heavier losses, with about 1,190 casualties. This included 900 soldiers killed and 290 captured. They also lost their 2 cannons.

This victory helped the Portuguese and Brazilians in their goal to control the Banda Oriental region.

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