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47-621: On June 20, 1811, Tacna was the scene of the first cry of Independence of Peru . Francisco Antonio de Zela , an important precursor of Peruvian independence, once lived in this property. The house, located in block No. 5 of Zela Street, was declared a Historical Monument on June 20, 1961 by Resolution No. 243. Today, it is the Salón Museo Arqueológico (Archeological Museum Hall) where ceramic and textile pieces, works of wood and metal, and pre-Hispanic fishing and basket weaving tools are displayed. In 2012, paintings were stolen from

94-407: A commune that served as the seat of the eponymous department and province . In modern Peruvian historiography, this period is known as the cautiverio . The Treaty of Ancón was signed in 1883 between Peru and Chile, ending the war. Under the terms of the treaty, Chile was to administer the provinces of Tacna and Arica for ten years, taking control of valuable mineral deposits , after which

141-463: A plebiscite was to be held to determine the region's sovereignty. But when the ten years had elapsed, the two sides could not agree whether to include a large number of imported Chilean laborers in the vote. Throughout the administration, Chilean groups and authorities led a campaign of Chilenization in an attempt to persuade the local population to abandon their Peruvian past and accept Chilean nationality. However, Peruvian nationalists ensured that

188-434: A Caballo Regiment to charge. Two squadrons rode to the far left of the battlefield to engage Murguía's Alianza Battalion, who had captured a few cannons. Murguía received the cavalry in squared formations and with well performed rifle volleys drove it off. However, the charge forced the allied advance to stop, which gave Amengual and Barceló precious time to rally and to resupply. Just when Yávar retreated, Amunátegui arrived. On

235-475: A few fertile spots near the mountains. Except for Caplina , no rivers cross the entire province. Tacna has a desert climate ( BWk/BWh , according to the Köppen climate classification ). Tacna was served by a cross-border 1,435 mm ( 4 ft  8 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ) standard gauge railway to Arica , Chile . The line closed in 2012, but as of June 2014, there were plans to reopen it. It

282-505: A few miles north from Tacna, becoming an excellent shooting ground. It has on the rear of a series of small sand ridges that allowed the concealment of reserve units behind them. The flanks are protected by the Sama-Tacna road from the east, and to the west by an almost impossible to walk terrain, where no artillery could ever been placed, and a harsh field for infantry or cavalry movement. The Allied plan relied on taking tactical advantage of

329-567: A large Peru-Bolivian army under poor sanitary conditions the city lost a substantial part of its population to infectious diseases before its capture by Chile in May 1880 following a defeat of the allied army in the outskirts of the city by a Chilean force under General Manuel Baquedano . During the war, the Tacna—as well as neighbouring Arica —was administered by the Chilean Army and incorporated as

376-670: A neo- renaissance Cathedral , the Courthouse , the Alameda Bolognesi and the caves of Toquepala , where archaeologists have found some of the oldest human remains in Peru. The most important festivity in the city is the Semana de Tacna ("Tacna Week"), which runs from August 25–30. On 28 August, a large Peruvian flag is shown throughout the city during the Paseo de la Bandera , which celebrates

423-498: A royal accountant (similar in function to a modern-day income tax auditor), initiated the push for Peruvian Independence from Spain in 1811 in Tacna, leading to a series of commemorative actions for the city, culminating in the 1828 declaration of Tacna as the "Heroic City" ( La Heroica Ciudad de San Pedro de Tacna ) by President José de La Mar . It was the capital of the short-lived Peru–Bolivian Confederation (1836–1839). Tacna

470-821: A stroke at Las Yaras. The Chilean President Aníbal Pinto appointed the former Lieutenant of the National Guard José Francisco Vergara as the new War Minister in Campaign. Whilst the Chilean Army developed in the Tacna Department, the Allies had their own problems. Montero wanted to wait for the Chileans at Tacna, but Col. Eliodoro Camacho supported the idea to march and ambush them at the Sama river valley, easing

517-514: A year in the city, but had little experience of the dry conditions outside the valley where the city of Tacna lay. By the time of the battle the sanitary conditions in the city were poor with infectious diseases being widespread among both soldiers and the civilian population. Civilians and soldiers alike died of infectious diseases , hospitals were underfunded, and overall the management of the military effort poor. Many diseased soldiers went directly from hospital and houses where they were resting to

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564-653: Is also the location of the National Railway Museum of Peru . Tacna is served by the Crnl. FAP. Carlos Ciriani Santa Rosa International Airport , with flights to Arequipa and Lima . Tacna is also served by Peru Highway 1 which heads south to Arica and north to Moquegua . Many monuments are located in this city, including the arch of the Alto de la Alianza and the Tacna Parabolic Arch . Other monuments include

611-1267: Is located only 35 km (22 mi) north of the border with Arica y Parinacota Region from Chile , inland from the Pacific Ocean and in the valley of the Caplina River . It is Peru's tenth most populous city. The city has gained a reputation for its patriotism, with many monuments and streets named after heroes of Peru's struggle for independence (1821–1824) and the War of the Pacific (1879–1883). Residents of Tacna are known in Spanish as tacneños . [REDACTED]   Spain (1542–1811, 1811–1821) [REDACTED] American Union (1811) [REDACTED] Protectorate of Peru (1821–1822) [REDACTED] Peru (1822–1836) [REDACTED]   Peru–Bolivia (1836–1839; capital ) [REDACTED] Peru (1839–1841) [REDACTED]   Bolivia (1841; occupation ) [REDACTED] Peru (1841–1880) [REDACTED]   Chile (1880–1929; administration ) [REDACTED]   Peru (1929–present) Francisco Antonio de Zela ,

658-710: The Battle of the Peak of the Alliance (Spanish: Batalla del Alto de la Alianza ), effectively destroyed the Peru - Bolivian alliance against Chile , forged by a secret treaty signed in 1873. On 26 May 1880, 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 . The battle took place at

705-467: The Puno Region living there. Its economy is based on mercantile activities with the north of Chile (Arica and Iquique ). Since it is part of a duty-free zone, Tacna has come to rival Arequipa as southern Peru's main business area. The city has one of the largest artifact markets in the world with imports from Japan and China , and traditional Peruvian handicrafts. The area is generally desert, with

752-538: The 2nd Line, Navales and Valparaíso regiments had severe losses. The 2nd Line Regiment banner lost at the battle of Tarapacá was found on a church in Tacna by Ruperto Marchant Pereira. The Allies had casualties estimated between 3,500 and 5,000 men. The Bolivian Army lost 23 officers from Major to General. The "Colorados" Battalion had only 293 survivors, while the Aroma Battalion ;— also known as "Amarillo" – lost 388 soldiers, since these units chose to fight to

799-567: The Allied Army. By the end of the month, the Peruvian stronghold of Los Angeles Hill , -a position considered unbreakable by the Allies- fell to Baquedano. On 9 April, the port of El Callao was placed under blockade. However, the Peruvian corvette Unión broke through the blockade on Arica, delivering supplies, medicines, and shoes to the port garrison. On 20 May, Minister Rafael Sotomayor died of

846-538: The Allied front. When Camacho saw his units retreating, he ordered his rearguard to fire upon the fugitives. Also, he asked for reinforcements, and Montero's reserve was sent in his help. By 12:30 am, the Chileans had depleted their ammunition and the attack faded. The Allies saw the opportunity and a general charge was ordered. All of Castro Pinto's infantry attacked Barceló, while the Peruvian II and III divisions along with

893-553: The Aroma and Alianza battalions attacked Amengual. With almost no bullets, the Chileans had to fall back with several casualties. The Atacama Regiment alone lost almost half of its personnel. The commander of the Esmeralda Regiment, Lt. Col. Adolfo Holley asked for the cavalry to intervene. Also, Baquedano sent Amunátegui's III Division to reinforce the vanguard, and moved the artillery forward. Vergara ordered Yávar's Granaderos

940-449: The Chilean propaganda failed and the planned plebiscite was never held. The commune was formally created through a decree on 22 December 1891, taking into account the limits assigned by the decrees of 9 November 1885 and 10 May 1886, and was composed of four subdelegations: El Callao , San Ramón , El Mercado and El Alto de Lima . According to the 1907 census, the population that year

987-640: The Inti Urqu ( Intiorko ) hill plateau, a few miles north of the Peruvian city of Tacna . As a result, Bolivia was knocked out of the war, leaving Peru to fight the rest of the war alone. Also, this victory consolidated the Chilean domain over the Tarapacá Department. The territory was definitively annexed to Chile after the signing of the Tratado de Ancón , in 1884, which ended the war. Tacna itself remained under Chilean control until 1929. After their success in

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1034-507: The South and the Bolivian Army combined added up to twenty one battalions with eight machine guns and nine cannons, plus eight cavalry squadrons. The Chileans discussed battle plans for the battle. The first one was a flanking maneuver on the Allied right proposed by War Minister Vergara. On the other hand, Col. Velasquez had the idea to exploit the lack of depth in the allied lines, and to engage

1081-513: The Tarapacá campaign, the Chileans went quiet for some time. The Chilean government believed that with the capture of Tarapacá, Peru would sign a truce, allowing Chile to keep the recently gained territory as war compensation. Besides, the army had enlarged by mass civilian volunteers. By November, the Army of Northern Operations had 12,000 men. Finally, the control of Antofagasta meant an extra cash-flow from

1128-500: The V Division of Col. Herrera to reinforce the Allied left, between Camacho and Castro Pinto. After a bitter struggle, the Chileans drove back the Viedma and Victoria battalions, but couldn't break the allied left completely. Both sides engaged in a fierce fighting, firing upon each other no farther than 40 meters away. The Sucre Battalion lost 80% of its men, while Amengual continued his advance. Until now, only 4,500 soldiers had assaulted

1175-433: The anniversary of the reincorporation of Tacna into Peruvian sovereignty and is one of the most important patriotic demonstrations in the whole country. This tradition started in 1901, during the Chilean administration of Tacna, by a group of tacneños who defied the prohibition of showing Peruvian flags imposed by the Chilean authorities. There is an agrarian and industrial fair as part of these celebrations. In September,

1222-481: The battlefield. The main problem for the allies was that the infantry had different types of rifles, and many of them were obsolete, with no compatible ammunition. Being the highest-ranking officer, the command of the Allies fell to Gen. Narciso Campero, president of Bolivia. The Chilean High Command planned a landing at Ilo and Pacocha to scout the country and to gain knowledge of the Allies status. Following two previous incursions, 10,000 men were unshipped at Ilo. By

1269-486: The cavalry was composed of three regiments, with a fraction detached to the II Division and the rest with Baquedano's chief staff. The Chilean army presented at Tacna a total of sixteen battalions, three cavalry regiments and thirty-seven cannons. The battle began with a useless artillery duel, because the projectiles buried in the sand and didn't explode. According to Velázquez' plan, around 10 am Amengual's division began

1316-474: The city. Later, Tacna was shelled in order to force the surrender, and finally Col. Santiago Amengual entered into the city around 18:30. The Chilean Army had 2,200 casualties. Amengual's, Barceló's and Amunátegui's divisions, which added up 6,500 men, had 1,639 dead and wounded. Barbosa's division lost 15% of its force. The Chilean reserve almost did not fight, having only 17 wounded. The Atacama and Santiago regiments lost almost 50% of their effective force. Also

1363-428: The communications with Arequipa. Trying to avoid any confrontation, Gen. Campero traveled to Tacna to take charge, assuming his command on 19 April. On the night of 25 May, Campero's troops tried to ambush the Chileans at Quebrada Honda, but the darkness and the mist prevented the Allies from doing so, forcing their return to Tacna for defense preparations. The Intiorko plateau is an arid and soft-sloped terrain located

1410-496: The creation of the communes of Palca and Sama , which together with Tacna formed a single municipal group; That is, neither Palca and Sama had their own communal government as in most communes in Chile. In 1929, the Treaty of Lima was signed in which Chile kept Arica, whilst Peru reacquired Tacna and received a $ 6 million indemnity and other concessions. The commune ceased to exist when

1457-411: The end instead of retreating. The Peruvian army lost 185 officers, and more than 3,000 soldiers died. According to a communication of Solar to Piérola, only 400 Peruvian men escaped from the battle. The defeat had a decisive impact upon the Allies. Gen. Campero withdrew to Bolivia, taking the road to Palca, meanwhile Montero retired to Puno, passing through Tarata. This battle was a turning point in

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1504-491: The far left, Amengual's men and the “Artillería de Marina” Regiment caught the Bolivians in a heavy cross fire, and after intense fighting, tore them to pieces. The rest of Amunátegui's and Barceló's divisions regained the terrain previously lost, and finally broke the allied center. Now the tide was firmly in Chile's favor. Meanwhile, the Chileans attacked the allied left and center, Barbosa's IV Division attacked Lizardo Montero on

1551-614: The festival of the Señor de Locumba is celebrated, which draws thousands of faithful people from all over the world. 18°00′53″S 70°14′56″W  /  18.01466°S 70.24887°W  / -18.01466; -70.24887 Battle of Tacna Chilean victory Loa Line and Altiplano campaign Tarapacá campaign Tacna and Arica campaign Lynch Expedition Lima campaign Chilean occupation of Peru Breña campaign 1881 1882 1883 Arequipa-Puno Line The Battle of Tacna , also known as

1598-433: The loss of the Tarapacá Department stopped the earnings of the saltpeter trade, making the war financial weight heavier for the Allies. The Allies had 11,000 men between Tacna and Arica . The army present in Tacna had about 10,000 men and thirty one cannons — six Krupp cannons, six machine guns, two La Hitte cannons, seven 4" strayed cannons and 12" Blackey cannons. Elements of the allied army had been stationed about

1645-539: The march over the Allied left, while Barceló moved to the center with his division in a single line, and Barbosa marched over Montero. Amengual engaged first, because Barceló was ordered to wait until the I Division could take the Allied left flank. Amengual engaged Camacho on the far left of his position. Camacho sent in Col. Jacinto Mendoza 's IV Division as well as the Sucre, Tarija and Viedma battalions. Also, General Campero sent

1692-453: The museum. 18°00′43″S 70°14′59″W  /  18.01191°S 70.24983°W  / -18.01191; -70.24983 This Peru -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Tacna Tacna , officially known as San Pedro de Tacna , is a city in southern Peru and the regional capital of the Tacna Region . A very commercially active city, it

1739-510: The position. Finally, Barbosa's men bayonetted off the artillery defenders. Also, the remains of the Atacama Regiment with some troops from the 5th Line Regiment penetrated the allied lines and also attacked the right from the rearguard. Montero had no choice to fall back and the defensive front collapsed. After 5 hours of heavy fighting, the Allies left the battlefield. While the Allies retreated to Tacna, Amengual chased them until reaching

1786-541: The right. The Zapadores and Lautaro regiments advanced frontally over Montero, while the Cazadores del Desierto Battalion maneuvered to outflank from the far right. The constant sending of troops to help Camacho left Montero only with the Peruvian VI Division and Del Solar's Division and some artillery to defend his position. The Chileans advanced in guerrilla formation, and the Cazadores del Desierto Battalion outflanked

1833-609: The saltpeter exports. This made possible to purchase weapons, clothes, food and other war materials the expanding army would require, easing the burden of war expenditures. But, the lack of results generated popular discontent in Peru and Bolivia. Especially in the latter, the retreat from Camarones was a shame. This was determinant for the deposition of the President of Peru, Mariano Ignacio Prado, and his Bolivian counterpart, Hilarión Daza. Both were deposed and replaced by Nicolás de Piérola and General Narciso Campero , respectively. Also,

1880-515: The same type of bullets. The artillery had 37 cannon — 20 Krupp cannon and 17 mountain cannon . On 31 December, a Chilean column under Lt. Col. Arístides Martínez disembarked at Ilo. The Chileans took control of the town and severed the telegraph lines to Moquegua. Afterwards, the expedition took the train to Moquegua, and seized the town the next morning. Then, Martínez returned to Ilo and sailed back to Pisagua on 2 January. After this reconnaissance, Sotomayor decided to attack Tacna and Arica with

1927-451: The terrain; thus the strategy was to defend from a protected position. So, the army was set on the southern edge of the Intiorko plateau, deployed in a 3 km long defensive line. The troops neither prepared any defenses nor dug any trenches, apart from little sand defenses for the artillery on their right wing. Campero divided his army into three major sectors: The Peruvian Second Army of

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1974-556: The time of these events, Gen. Erasmo Escala resigned his commission as Commander in Chief due to constant arguments with War Minister Rafael Sotomayor . The latter appointed General Manuel Baquedano González as his successor. Baquedano was a veteran of the war against the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy , who had the sympathies and respect of the soldiers. The infantry was equipped with Comblain and upgraded Gras rifles, which used

2021-441: The treaty became effective on 28 August, in a ceremony held at the home of the prefect Federico Fernandini, in which an agreement was signed between the interim mayor of the Chilean province of Tacna, Gonzalo Robles, and a delegation of Peru headed by Foreign Minister Pedro José Rada y Gamio . At 4 p.m. that day, the Peruvian municipality of Tacna began its functions. Today, Tacna is a mostly commercial city with many migrants from

2068-641: The whole army, and left Moquegua alone. A massive landing took place between 18 and 25 February. In two echelons, four divisions disembarked at Ilo. On the 27, the Chilean Navy began the bombardment of Arica, where Huáscar 's new captain Manuel Thomson , died in the Naval Battle of Arica . On 8 March, another Chilean column of 900 soldiers under Colonel Orozimbo Barbosa was sent to Mollendo. Ten days later, Gen. Campero's arrived in Tacna and assumed control of

2115-458: The whole front in a simultaneous charge. The idea was that the troops couldn't be moved from one point to another, avoiding that the weaker points generated during the battle could be reinforced. Besides, the lack of trenches and fortifications would make this breaking easier. Baquedano inclined for Velasquez' plan. Thus, the infantry split into five divisions, as it follows: Velasquez' artillery had thirty-seven cannons and four machine guns, and

2162-399: Was known for its mining industry; it had significant deposits of sodium nitrate and other resources. Its economic prosperity attracted a wave of immigrants from Italy . Today, their Italian Peruvian descendants live in the city and many of them still have Italian surnames. This era of successful commerce and agriculture ended drastically with the start of the War of the Pacific . Hosting

2209-432: Was numbered at 10,593 people. During this period, people such as Jorge Basadre and Salvador Allende (as well as his family ) lived in the city. Starting in 1 February 1928, by virtue of Decree with Force of Law No. 8,583 published that 28 January under the government of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo , the commune of Tacna was composed of three subdelegations: Intendencia , Comercio and Pocollay . This decree also ordered

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