| Battle of Ingavi Battle of Incahue | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofPeruvian–Bolivian War | |||||||
 Battle of Ingavi | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Republic of Peru |  Republic of Bolivia | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Agustín Gamarra † | José Ballivián | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Peruvian Army 5,143 | Bolivian Army 4,788 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| estimated 175 killed | estimated 265 killed | ||||||
  Battle of Ingavi (South America) Show map of South America Battle of Ingavi (America) Show map of America | |||||||
TheBattle of Ingavi was fought on 18 November 1841, nearViacha, during thePeruvian–Bolivian War of 1841–1842. TheBolivian Army under the command ofJosé Ballivián repelled the invadingPeruvian Army commanded byAgustín Gamarra, who waskilled in action. Ingavi was the decisive engagement that prevented Peruvian annexation and secured Bolivian independence.
Following the dissolution of thePeru–Bolivian Confederation, Peruvian PresidentAgustín Gamarra, made the decision to invade Bolivia, using the political chaos occurring in the country as an excuse.[1] Gamarra had from the beginning supported a union between Peru and Bolivia but preferred it to be completely dominated by the Peruvian government, rather than being a confederation between the two nations.
Immediately,José Ballivián assumed power and proclaimed himself president. There were three different governments attempting to rule Bolivia: a legitimate government headquartered inChuquisaca, headed byJosé Mariano Serrano; another headquartered inCochabamba, headed byJosé Miguel de Velasco; and that of Ballivián, headquartered inLa Paz.
Faced with the danger of a Peruvian invasion, the three governments joined under Ballivián and readied their armies, which in Ingavi repelled the Peruvians and invaded southern Peru.
On 18 November 1841, with Agustín Gamarra being dead, thePeruvian Army left Bolivia. The news generated chaos inLima, where Vice PresidentManuel Menéndez struggled to maintain his authority. He was soon deposed, withJuan Crisóstomo Torrico assuming power, which returned order to the country. It was the last attempt of Peru to try to assume control of Bolivia.
The Bolivian Army did not have enough troops to maintain the occupation. In theSiege of Tarapacá, Peruvianmontoneros, formed by MajorJuan Buendía, fromIquique defeated on 7 January 1842 the detachment led by Colonel José María García, who died in the confrontation. Thus, Bolivian troops vacatedTacna,Arica andTarapacá in February 1842 and retreated toMoquegua andPuno.
In Arica, Peruvian militias expelled Bolivian troops who sought to take over the port. In the battles ofMotoni andOrurillo, Peru evicted and subsequently initiated the withdrawal of the remaining Bolivian forces that occupied Peruvian territory, again threatening Bolivia to suffer an invasion.
