Banda Oriental

Quick Facts: Who was Banda Oriental?

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Banda Oriental

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Historical region encompassing modern Uruguay, parts of Brazil, and Argentina.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Banda Oriental ('Eastern Bank'), or more fully Banda Oriental del Río Uruguay, was the name of the South American territories east of the Uruguay River and north of Río de la Plata that comprise the modern nation of Uruguay, the modern state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and part of the modern state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. It was the easternmost territory of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. After decades of disputes over the territories, the 1777 First Treaty of San Ildefonso settled the division between the Spanish Empire and the Portuguese Empire: the southern part was to be held by the Spanish Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata and the northern territories by the Portuguese Capitania de São Pedro do Rio Grande do Sul (English: Captaincy of Saint Peter of the Southern Río Grande). The Banda Oriental was not a separate administrative unit until the de facto creation of the Provincia Oriental (English: Eastern Province) by José Gervasio Artigas in 1813 and the subsequent decree of the Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata of 7 March 1814, which formally established the Gobernación Intendencia Oriental del Río de la Plata (English: Governorship-Intendency East of the Río de la Plata), making it a constituent part of the United Provinces of South America. Before the arrival of the Spanish and the Portuguese, several tribes of indigenous people were living in this area as nomads.

Career & Major Achievements

The principal ones were the Charrúas, the Chanás, the Guayanas and the Guaraníes. Juan Díaz de Solís discovered this territory in 1516. During the conquest of the Río de la Plata area by the "Adelantados" (1535–1590), the main concern was to reach the interior in search of precious metals, so this region remained mostly ignored. The first ephemeral Spanish attempts to start populated centres in this territory happened between 1527 and 1577. These were the Fortín de San Lázaro (actual Carmelo) and the Puerto de San Salvador (1527–1530) by Sebastián Gaboto, the Real de San Juan (1542–1553) and the Real de San Gabriel y Ciudad de San Salvador (1573–1577) by Juan Ortiz de Zárate.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1542 the Crown of Castile established the Viceroyalty of Peru, a colonial administrative district that originally contained most of Spanish-ruled South America, governed from the capital of Lima. The Banda Oriental was therefore officially under the administration of the Viceroyalty of Peru from 1542 up to 1776. Although the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) limited the Portuguese colonies to the east of the 46th meridian, in practice, the Portuguese were free to advance in most of the territory that was not colonized by the Spanish, which included most of the Banda Oriental. In the early 17th century the territory was called Banda Charrúa, later Otra Banda ("other shore"), and then Banda Oriental. Later the name was extended to encompass Entre Ríos, to describe the territories in those latitudes that lead to the Mar del Nord (Atlantic Ocean).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1494: 1494 Milestone — Although the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) limited the Portuguese colonies to the east of the 46th meridian, in practice, the Portuguese were free to advance in most of the territory that was not colonized by the Spanish, which included most of the Banda Oriental.
2. 1516: 1516 Milestone — Juan Díaz de Solís discovered this territory in 1516.
3. 1527: 1527 Milestone — The first ephemeral Spanish attempts to start populated centres in this territory happened between 1527 and 1577.
4. 1535: 1535 Milestone — During the conquest of the Río de la Plata area by the "Adelantados" (1535–1590), the main concern was to reach the interior in search of precious metals, so this region remained mostly ignored.
5. 1542: 1542 Milestone — In 1542 the Crown of Castile established the Viceroyalty of Peru, a colonial administrative district that originally contained most of Spanish-ruled South America, governed from the capital of Lima.
6. 1777: 1777 Milestone — After decades of disputes over the territories, the 1777 First Treaty of San Ildefonso settled the division between the Spanish Empire and the Portuguese Empire: the southern part was to be held by the Spanish Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata and the northern territories by the Portuguese Capitania de São Pedro do Rio Grande do Sul (English: Captaincy of Saint Peter of the Southern Río Grande).
7. 1813: 1813 Milestone — The Banda Oriental was not a separate administrative unit until the de facto creation of the Provincia Oriental (English: Eastern Province) by José Gervasio Artigas in 1813 and the subsequent decree of the Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata of 7 March 1814, which formally established the Gobernación Intendencia Oriental del Río de la Plata (English: Governorship-Intendency East of the Río de la Plata), making it a constituent part of the United Provinces of South America.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Banda Oriental

True or False: “The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 definitively established all future colonial boundaries for the Spanish Empire in South America.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While influential, the treaty's practical application was often ignored by European powers, allowing Portuguese expansion into areas not strictly defined.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Antonio García Gutiérrez — Historical peer (Born in 1813) (1813): Leading Spanish Romantic dramatist, known for 'El trovador' and 'Simón Bocanegra'.
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• Alexander Cunningham — Historical peer (Born in 1814) (1814): Pioneering British archaeologist and founder of the Archaeological Survey of India.
• Akechi Mitsuhide — Historical peer (Born in 1516) (1516): A prominent samurai general of the Sengoku period, known for his betrayal of Oda Nobunaga.
• Bayinnaung — Historical peer (Born in 1516) (1516): Emperor of the Toungoo Dynasty, who forged the largest empire in Southeast Asian history.
• Araki Murashige — Historical peer (Born in 1535) (1535): Feudal lord and tea master who served Oda Nobunaga before defecting to the Mori clan.
• Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād — Historical peer (Died in 1535) (1535): Master of Persian Miniature Painting, defining the high point of Islamic art.

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