The Battle of Las Piedras Day in Uruguay commemorates the Battle of Las Piedras, a key victory in 1811 by Uruguayan patriots, led by General José Gervasio Artigas, over Spanish colonial forces. This battle is widely regarded as the first major military success in Uruguay's struggle for independence.

When is Battle of Las Piedras Day?

The Battle of Las Piedras Day is observed on May 18 each year.

The following is the list of the Battle of Las Piedras Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Battle of Las Piedras Day?

Battle of Las Piedras Day is celebrated annually on May 18. This event is seen as a foundational moment in the history of Uruguay's independence movement.

In the early 19th century, Uruguay, then called the Banda Oriental, was part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. Inspired by revolutionary movements in Buenos Aires and elsewhere in South America, resistance against Spanish authority began to rise.

José Gervasio Artigas, a local leader and skilled military commander, emerged as a central figure in organizing the rebellion.

On May 18, 1811, Artigas, leading around 1,200 poorly equipped revolutionaries, engaged a better-armed Spanish royalist force near the town of Las Piedras, just outside Montevideo.

Despite being outmatched, the patriot forces defeated the Spanish, capturing most of their army and gaining control of a key strategic area.

Artigas' decision to spare the lives of captured soldiers earned him praise and set a standard of honor and discipline within the independence movement.

The victory was the first significant triumph for the revolutionary forces in Uruguay. It inspired further uprisings and helped unify regional support for liberation from colonial rule.

The battle is considered the birth of the Uruguayan Army, and Artigas is revered as the Father of Uruguayan Nationhood.

The Battle of Las Piedras is a symbol of national pride, and the values demonstrated in that historic victory continue to shape Uruguayan identity today.