The Spanish-American repelling of the British Invasions of Rio de la Plata, 1806-1807

ALEJANDRO M. RABINOVICH

York, GB

Congreso; University of York’s “War, Empire and Slavery, 1790-1820” International Seminar; 2008

Centre for eighteenth century studies, University of York

On June 25th, 1806, General William Beresford and 1600 British regular soldiers landed a few kilometres off the shores of the Spanish colony of Buenos Aires. The daring corsair-like expedition, launched without official sanction, was soon rewarded with the most brilliant results: the city surrendered with little resistance, a rich treasure was shipped to England and the Rio de la Plata officially became part of the British Empire. For the local population, however, the cruel experience of military defeat was to become a decisive turning point, changing its social values and practices and shaping its history for more than half a century. Traditionally, the people of the River Plate were peaceful and unconcerned with the problems of military security. However, after the British crushing of the Spanish colonial forces the Spanish-Americans would revolt, organise themselves and ultimately force the surrender of the British garrison. The day after the reconquest of the city an already transformed society plunged enthusiastically into total militarisation in order to repel a possible second invasion. This would come a few months later, when General Withelocke and a force of twelve thousand men were massacred by the newly organised local militias in the streets of Buenos Aires. The Times referred to this disaster as "...perhaps the greatest which has been felt by this country since the commencements of the revolutionary war".The analysis of these events will allow us to address several key matters of war and imperial dynamics: the propagation of the war phenomenon from the imperial centres to the peripheries; the adaptation and transformation of the local societies in order to incorporate war as a "normal" component of social life; the spontaneous, popular and massive mobilisation of combat forces (including women, children, slaves); the democratic and revolutionary consequences of the warfare experience; and the indefinite prolongation of the state of war.