Battle of Miraflores

Overview

The Battle of Miraflores occurred on January 15, 1881 in the Miraflores District of Lima, Peru. It was an important battle during the War of the Pacific that was fought between Chile and the forces of Peru. The Chilean army led by Gen. Manuel Baquedano defeated the army commanded by Nicolás de Piérola guarding the second defensive line of the Peruvian capital city. Two days later, Lima, the capital city of Peru was occupied by Chilean troops. Gen. Baquedano's forces marched into Lima triumphant, while Peru's president and his officers fled into the interior, leaving the country without any government. Even after the fall of Lima, the war continued between the occupation army and the troops of Andres Caceres for another three years. During the occupation of Lima, Peru's National Library was burned, while a number of other monuments were ransacked by Chilean forces and taken as war trophies.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

Miraflores was the decisive engagement that broke the second and final defensive line protecting Lima. Chilean forces under Baquedano defeated the Peruvian army commanded by Piérola, and two days later Chilean troops occupied the Peruvian capital. Peru's president and his officers fled into the interior, leaving the country without a functioning government. During the occupation that followed, Peru's National Library was burned and a number of monuments were ransacked and taken as war trophies. Despite the fall of Lima, the war did not end there: Peruvian forces under Andrés Avelino Cáceres continued resistance against the Chilean occupation army for another three years, making Miraflores the opening of a prolonged occupation rather than a clean conclusion to the conflict.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (3)