Origin of The War
In 1838, France started a naval blockade over the port of Buenos Aires, supporting their allies in the Peru–Bolivian Confederation, who were involved in the War of the Confederation after Argentina and Chile declared war on them. Unable to deploy land troops, France sought allied forces to fight Juan Manuel de Rosas on their behalf. For this purpose they helped Fructuoso Rivera to topple the Uruguayan president Manuel Oribe, who was staying in good terms with Rosas. Oribe was exiled to Buenos Aires and Rivera assumed power in October 1838. Rosas did not recognize Rivera as a legitimate president, and sought to restore Oribe in power. Rivera and Juan Lavalle prepared troops to attack Buenos Aires. Both British and French troops intervened, transforming the conflict into an international war.
On December 6, 1842, the Blancos under Manuel Oribe and the Colorados under Fructuoso Rivera fought the Battle of Arroyo Grande. Rivera's forces were utterly defeated, and Oribe proceeded to lay siege to Montevideo.
Read more about this topic: Uruguayan Civil War
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