In Argentina, today, November 20, National Sovereignty Day is celebrated to commemorate the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado, which took place in 1845. According to the Argentine News Agency (NA), this holiday was established as an immovable national holiday in 2010, although for 2025, the government of Javier Milei decided to move it to create an extended break. As a result, the upcoming holiday for National Sovereignty Day has been moved to Monday, November 24, while Friday, November 21, has been declared a "non-working day for tourist purposes."
What was the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado?
The battle was fought on November 20, 1845, at a bend in the Paraná River, known as Vuelta de Obligado, near the town of San Pedro in the northern part of Buenos Aires Province.
The historical context of the battle was as follows:
Blockade and Aggression: Although Argentina was an independent nation, the fleets of France and the United Kingdom (Great Britain) attempted to force their way up the Paraná River, sailing into the interior of the country to establish direct commercial contact with the littoral provinces, violating the national sovereignty and the authority of the government of the Argentine Confederation, presided over by Juan Manuel de Rosas.
Argentine Defense: General Lucio N. Mansilla, on behalf of the Confederation, organized the defense. Although they were ultimately militarily overwhelmed and the chains were cut, the combat lasted for several hours.
Although the battle was a military defeat in terms of immediate results, Argentine resistance had a profound political and diplomatic impact:
Moral Victory: The fierce resistance shown by the Argentine defenders forced the European powers to recognize the high military and political cost of their intervention.
Sovereignty of the Rivers: The confrontation set a key precedent in the defense of national sovereignty over inland waterways.
Heroes of Independence: The battle revalorized the feat of the first heroes of Independence, as it was the last major confrontation with foreign powers seeking to impose their interests on Argentine territory.
To prevent the passage of the Anglo-French fleet, three enormous chains were placed from coast to coast, suspended over 24 launches, crossing the narrow river at Vuelta de Obligado.
The Combat: The Argentine forces, with scarce resources and fewer warships than the powerful foreign fleet, fought bravely.
