Battle of Caseros
1852 · Caseros estate, western outskirts of Buenos Aires (present-day Tres de Febrero Partido, Argentina) · World · Modern
Rosas's army was quickly routed; Rosas resigned the same day and boarded a British warship to go into exile in Britain.
Belligerents
"Grand Army" (Entre Ríos, Corrientes, Brazil, Uruguay)
- Commanders
- Justo José de Urquiza
- Strength
- About 24,000 (including about 4,000 Brazilian troops)
Buenos Aires (Rosas government)
- Commanders
- Juan Manuel de Rosas
- Strength
- About 22,000
Background
Rosas ruled Buenos Aires for over twenty years, monopolizing port customs revenue and river shipping, which angered the riverine provinces. In 1851 Urquiza, governor of Entre Ríos Province, announced his break with Rosas and allied with anti-Rosas forces in Brazil and Uruguay; he first lifted the siege of Montevideo, then crossed the Paraná and advanced on Buenos Aires.
Course of the battle
- Crossing the river and advancingUrquiza led the "Grand Army" across the Paraná and advanced on Buenos Aires through Santa Fe Province.
- Armies face offOn February 3 Rosas deployed around the Caseros estate, holding the estate buildings with artillery and infantry.
- Cavalry breakthroughUrquiza's cavalry routed the cavalry on both of Rosas's flanks, his infantry then took the estate, and Rosas's army collapsed along the whole line.
- Rosas goes into exileRosas wrote his resignation near the battlefield, then took refuge in the British consulate and boarded a ship into exile in Britain.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 1852 |
|---|---|
| Place | Caseros estate, western outskirts of Buenos Aires (today Tres de Febrero Partido, Argentina) |
| Result | Rosas's army was quickly routed; Rosas resigned the same day and boarded a British warship to go into exile in Britain. |
| Winner | "Grand Army" |
| Casualties | No reliable record; the fighting was brief, and deaths are generally believed to have numbered in the hundreds |
| Territorial change | The Rosas regime came to an end; Urquiza convened a Constitutional Convention, which produced the Constitution of 1853 |
Impact
The Battle of Caseros ended the Rosas era and began Argentina's process of constitution-making and national organization.
See the world in 1852 on the map →