Cisplatine War - Legacy

Legacy

Although the war was not a war of independence, as none of the belligerents fought to establish an independent nation, it has a similar recognition within Uruguay. The Thirty-Three Orientals are acknowledged as national heroes, who freed Uruguay from Brazilian presence. The landing of the Thirty-Three Orientals is also known as the "Liberation crusade".

The war has a similar good reception within Argentina, considered as a brave fight against an enemy of superior forces. The Argentine Navy kept naming many ships after the ships involved in the war, or people or events from it. William Brown (known as "Guillermo Brown" in Argentina) is considered the father of the Argentine navy, and treated like an epic hero for his actions in the war. He is also known as the "Nelson of the Río de la Plata".

On the contrary, Brazil has little interest in the war, beyond a claque of naval warfare fans. Few Brazilian historians have examined it in detail. The national heroes of Brazil are instead from the Brazilian independence, the conflicts with Rosas or the War of the Triple Alliance.

Despite the role of Britain in the war, and the presence of British naval people on both sides of the conflict, the war is largely unknown in the English-speaking world.