Battle of Vuelta de Obligado
1845 CE · Parana River, Argentina
The Battle of Vuelta de Obligado was fought in 1845 CE in Parana River, Argentina between Argentine Confederation vs an Anglo-French naval squadron; the squadron forced the passage, but the costly action helped end the blockade on Argentine terms.
Battle of Vuelta de Obligado: quick facts
- Date
- 1845 CE
- Location
- Parana River, Argentina
- Belligerents
- Argentine Confederation vs an Anglo-French naval squadron
- Commanders
- Lucio N. Mansilla vs Charles Hotham and François Thomas Tréhouart
- Result
- the squadron forced the passage, but the costly action helped end the blockade on Argentine terms.
- Era
- 🌎 Latin American Wars
- Quiz difficulty
- hard
What happened at the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado?
Argentine forces under Juan Manuel de Rosas attempted to block an Anglo-French naval squadron from sailing up the Parana River. Iron chains were stretched across the waterway and shore batteries opened fire. Though the European warships eventually broke through, the fierce resistance demonstrated Argentine sovereignty and is celebrated as a day of national sovereignty.
Did you know?
Despite technically losing the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado, Argentina celebrates November 20th as the 'Day of National Sovereignty' in honor of the defiant resistance against European intervention.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Vuelta de Obligado on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.