List of conflicts in South America

This is a list of armed conflicts in South America.

Thumb — **Development of Spanish America**
  Government under traditional Spanish law
  Loyal to Supreme Centre Cortes
  American junta or insurrection movement
  Independent state declared or established
  Height of French control of the Peninsula

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Argentina

c. 1472–1493 Topa Inca Yupanqui, the tenth Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire, extended the realm northward along the Andes through modern Ecuador, and developed a special fondness for the city of Quito, which he rebuilt with architects from Cuzco. During this time his father Pachacuti reorganized the Kingdom of Cuzco into the Tahuantinsuyu, the "four provinces". He led extensive military conquests to extend the Inca Empire across much of South America, within the boundaries of the nations which are today called Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. He became Inca in his turn upon his father's death in 1471, ruling until his own death in 1493. He conquered Chimor, which occupied the northern coast of what is now Peru, the largest remaining rival to the Incas.
c. 1493–1527 Huayna Capac, the eleventh Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire, extended the Inca Empire significantly to the south into present-day Chile and Argentina and tried to annex territories towards the north, in what is now Ecuador and southern Colombia, founding cities like Atuntaqui. Further north, Huayna Capac's forces reached the Chinchipe River Basin but were pushed back by the Shuar in 1527. The Inca Empire reached the height of its size and power under his rule, stretching over much of present-day Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and southwestern Colombia. The lands conquered in the south within Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile would form the province Qullasuyu of the Inca Empire.
1754 — 1757 Spanish-Portuguese invasion of the Jesuit-sponsored "Guarani Nation"
1810 — 1818 Argentine War of Independence
1814 — 1880 Argentine Civil Wars
1837 — 1839 War between Argentina and Peru–Bolivian Confederation
1904 — 1984 Beagle conflict
1955 Revolución Libertadora
1963 1963 Argentine Navy revolt
1965 Laguna del Desierto incident
1966 Argentine Revolution
1976 — 1983 The Dirty War
- 1975-1977 Operativo Independencia
  - 1975 Battle of Acheral
- 1975 Operation Primicia
- 1976 1976 Argentine coup d'état
1982 — The Falklands War
1987 — 1990 Carapintadas uprisings
1989 — Attack on La Tablada barracks
1997 — present Mapuche conflict
2001 Argentinazo
2013 police revolts in Argentina

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Bolivia

c. 500 — c. 1100 Wari Empire
c. 1472–1493 Topa Inca Yupanqui, the tenth Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire, extended the realm northward along the Andes through modern Ecuador, and developed a special fondness for the city of Quito, which he rebuilt with architects from Cuzco. During this time his father Pachacuti reorganized the Kingdom of Cuzco into the Tahuantinsuyu, the "four provinces". He led extensive military conquests to extend the Inca Empire across much of South America, within the boundaries of the nations which are today called Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. He became Inca in his turn upon his father's death in 1471, ruling until his own death in 1493. He conquered Chimor, which occupied the northern coast of what is now Peru, the largest remaining rival to the Incas. The lands conquered in the south within Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile would form the province Qullasuyu of the Inca Empire.
1780 — 1782 Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II by indigenous people, mestizos, blacks, and criollos against the Spanish Empire
1836 — 1839 War of the Confederation between the Peru-Bolivian Confederation and Chile
1879 — 1884 Bolivia and Peru fight Chile in the War of the Pacific
1932 — 1935 Chaco War between Bolivia and Paraguay
1946 La Paz riots
1966 — 1967 Ñancahuazú Guerrilla
1970 Teoponte Guerrilla
2008 unrest in Bolivia
2011 — 2012 Bolivian Indigenous Rights Protests
2019 Bolivian protests
2020 Bolivian protests

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Brazil

1557 — 1575 French-Portuguese conflict over France Antarctique, a French colony in Rio de Janeiro.
1591 — Thomas Cavendish, a British corsair, occupied Santos
1821 — 1825 Brazilian War of Independence
1835 — Malê Revolt
1835 — 1845 Republican revolt against the Empire of Brazil is put down in the Ragamuffin War
1896 — 1897 War of Canudos
1912 — 1916 Contestado War, a rebellion in Brazil, fails.
1932 — 1932 Constitutionalist Revolution, a failed uprising centered in São Paulo, Brazil
1961 — 1963 Lobster War
1964 1964 Brazilian coup d'état
1966 — 1975 Araguaia Guerrilla War
February 1991 — March 1991 Operation Traira
1990 – present Armed conflict for control of the favelas
- 2006 2006 São Paulo violence outbreak
- 2010 2010 Rio de Janeiro security crisis

Chile

c. 500 — c. 1100 Wari Empire
c. 1472–1493 Topa Inca Yupanqui, the tenth Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire, extended the realm northward along the Andes through modern Ecuador, and developed a special fondness for the city of Quito, which he rebuilt with architects from Cuzco. During this time his father Pachacuti reorganized the Kingdom of Cuzco into the Tahuantinsuyu, the "four provinces". He led extensive military conquests to extend the Inca Empire across much of South America, within the boundaries of the nations which are today called Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. He became Inca in his turn upon his father's death in 1471, ruling until his own death in 1493. He conquered Chimor, which occupied the northern coast of what is now Peru, the largest remaining rival to the Incas.
c. 1493–1527 Huayna Capac, the eleventh Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire, extended the Inca Empire significantly to the south into present-day Chile and Argentina and tried to annex territories towards the north, in what is now Ecuador and southern Colombia, founding cities like Atuntaqui. Further north, Huayna Capac's forces reached the Chinchipe River Basin but were pushed back by the Shuar in 1527. The Inca Empire reached the height of its size and power under his rule, stretching over much of present-day Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and southwestern Colombia. The lands conquered in the south within Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile would form the province Qullasuyu of the Inca Empire.
1535 — 1537 Expedition to Chile of the Spanish conqueror Diego de Almagro.

1536 Battle of Reynogüelén

16th century — 17th or 18th century Arauco War

1546 Battle of Quilacura
1550 Battle of Andalien
1550 Battle of Penco
1553 Battle of Tucapel
1554 Battle of Marihueñu
1556 Battle of Peteroa
1557 Battle of Mataquito
1557 Battle of Lagunillas
1557 Battle of Millarapue
1558 Battle of Quiapo
1564 Siege of Concepcion
1564 Battle of Angol
1569 Battle of Catirai
1598 Disaster of Curalaba
1599 — 1604 Destruction of the Seven Cities
1612 Defensive War
1655 Mapuche Insurrection
1712 Huilliche rebellion
1723 The Mapuche Uprising
1759, 1766, and 1769 The Mapuche Rebellions
1792 Huilliche Rebellion of 1792

1810 — 1826 Chilean War of Independence
1829 — 1830 Chilean Civil War
1836 — 1839 War of the Confederation between the Peru-Bolivian Confederation and Chile
1851 Chilean Revolution
1861 — 1883 Occupation of Araucanía
1864 — 1866 The Chincha Islands War between Spain and former colonies Peru and Chile occurs
1879 — 1884 Bolivia and Peru fight Chile in the War of the Pacific
1891 1891 Chilean Civil War
1973 Tanquetazo
1973 1973 Chilean coup d'etat
1973 — 1990 Armed resistance in Chile (1973–1990)
1997 — present Mapuche conflict
2019 — 2021 2019–2021 Chilean protests

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Colombia

c. 1493–1527 Huayna Capac, the eleventh Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire, extended the Inca Empire significantly to the south into present-day Chile and Argentina and tried to annex territories towards the north, in what is now Ecuador and southern Colombia, founding cities like Atuntaqui. Further north, Huayna Capac's forces reached the Chinchipe River Basin but were pushed back by the Shuar in 1527. The Inca Empire reached the height of its size and power under his rule, stretching over much of present-day Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and southwestern Colombia. The lands conquered in the north within Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia would form the province Chinchay Suyu of the Inca Empire.
1470 – 1490 Muisca warfare
1499 – 1602 Spanish conquest of the Chibchan Nations
1537 – 1539 Spanish conquest of the Muisca
1828 – 1829 Gran Colombia–Peru War
1860 – 1862 Colombian Civil War
1899 – 1902 Colombian Thousand Days' War
1932 – 1933 Colombia–Peru War
1948 – 1958 La Violencia in Colombia.
1964 – present Colombian conflict.
- 1980 1980 Dominican Republic Embassy siege in Bogotá
- 1985 Palace of Justice siege
- 2004 – 2006 Operation JM
- 2008 Operation Jaque
- 2013 2013 Colombian clashes
- 2018 Catatumbo campaign
2013 2013 Colombian coffee growers strike
2019 – 2020 2019–2020 Colombian protests
2021 – present 2021 Colombian protests

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Ecuador

c. 1471–1493 Topa Inca Yupanqui, the tenth Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire, extended the realm northward along the Andes through modern Ecuador, and developed a special fondness for the city of Quito, and conquered Chimor
c. 1493–1527 Huayna Capac, the eleventh Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire, extended the Inca Empire significantly to the south into present-day Chile and Argentina and tried to annex territories towards the north, in what is now Ecuador and southern Colombia, founding cities like Atuntaqui. Further north, Huayna Capac's forces reached the Chinchipe River Basin but were pushed back by the Shuar in 1527. The Inca Empire reached the height of its size and power under his rule, stretching over much of present-day Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and southwestern Colombia. The lands conquered in the north within Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia would form the province Chinchay Suyu of the Inca Empire.
1809 — 1812 Quito Revolution (1809–1812)
1820 — 1822 Ecuadorian War of Independence
1911 — 1912 War of the Generals
1913 — 1916 Ecuadorian Civil War of 1913–1916
1941 Ecuadorian-Peruvian War
1981 Paquisha War
1995 Cenepa War
2012 Ecuadorian protests
2015 Ecuadorian protests
2018 — present War on drugs in Ecuador
- 2020 — present Ecuadorian security crisis
- 2024 — present 2024 Ecuadorian conflict
2019 Ecuadorian protests
2020 Ecuadorian protests

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French Guiana

1667 Capture of Cayenne
1809 — 1817 Portuguese conquest and occupation of French Guiana
1895 Amapá Question
2017 social unrest in French Guiana

Peru

c. 900 BCE — c. 200 BCE Chavín culture

c. 500 — c. 1100 CE Wari Empire

c. 1230 Sinchi Roca, the second Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cuzco, waged war against a nearby kingdom after the killing of the Inca diplomat Teuotihi
c. 1290 Mayta Cápac, the fourth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cuzco, put the regions of Arequipa and Moquegua under the control of the Inca empire
c. 1320 Cápac Yupanqui, the fifth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cuzco, was the first Inca to conquer territory outside the valley of Cuzco
c. 1350 — c. 1380 Inca Roca, the sixth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cuzco, is said to have conquered the Chancas
c. 1380 Yáhuar Huácac, the seventh Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cuzco, abandoned the capital in an attack by the Chancas
c. 1410 — c. 1438 Viracocha Inca, the eighth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cuzco, defended the capital against the attack by the Chancas
c. 1438 — c. 1472 Pachacuti, the ninth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cuzco, defeated the Chancas and the Chimú

c. 1472 — c. 1493 Topa Inca Yupanqui, the tenth Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire, extended the realm northward along the Andes through modern Ecuador, and developed a special fondness for the city of Quito, which he rebuilt with architects from Cuzco. During this time his father Pachacuti reorganized the Kingdom of Cuzco into the Tahuantinsuyu, the "four provinces". He led extensive military conquests to extend the Inca Empire across much of South America, within the boundaries of the nations which are today called Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. He became Inca in his turn upon his father's death in 1471, ruling until his own death in 1493. He conquered Chimor, which occupied the northern coast of what is now Peru, the largest remaining rival to the Incas.

c. 1493 — c. 1527 Huayna Capac, the eleventh Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire, extended the Inca Empire significantly to the south into present-day Chile and Argentina and tried to annex territories towards the north, in what is now Ecuador and southern Colombia, founding cities like Atuntaqui. Further north, Huayna Capac's forces reached the Chinchipe River Basin but were pushed back by the Shuar in 1527. The Inca Empire reached the height of its size and power under his rule, stretching over much of present-day Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and southwestern Colombia.