Battle of Tacna

Overview

The Battle of Tacna, also known as the Battle of the Alto de la Alianza, was a battle that took place on May 26, 1880, at the plateau of the Alto de la Alianza, a hill a few miles north of the Peruvian city of Tacna. It effectively destroyed the Peru-Bolivian alliance against Chile, forged by a secret treaty signed in 1873. During the battle, the Chilean Northern Operations Army led by General Manuel Baquedano González conclusively defeated the combined armies of Peru and Bolivia commanded by Bolivian President, General Narciso Campero.

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

Significance

The Battle of Tacna, fought on the plateau of the Alto de la Alianza north of the city of Tacna, effectively destroyed the Peru-Bolivian alliance against Chile. That alliance had been forged by a secret treaty signed in 1873, and its collapse under Chilean military pressure fundamentally altered the strategic balance of the War of the Pacific. General Manuel Baquedano's Northern Operations Army conclusively defeated the combined Peruvian and Bolivian forces commanded by Bolivian President General Narciso Campero, inflicting casualties of between 3,500 and 5,000 on the allied side against Chilean losses of around 2,200. With Chilean forces numbering between roughly 11,779 and 14,147 against an allied strength of 8,930 to 12,000, the engagement left Bolivia without a functioning army in the field and effectively ended its active participation in the war, reducing Peru to fighting on alone against Chile.

Tactics

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)