History of Paraguay

The history of Paraguay can be roughly devided into 4 phases: The early time before the arrival of the europeans in south America, the colonial time in which the territory of todays Paraguay belonged to the spanish kingdom, the dawn, in which the country developed, became independent and integretated into the sate system, and finally, the recent history, which talks about the end of the military dictatorship to the present.

Pre-colombian period
The Paraguay of today belongs to the settlement area of the indigenous tribes of the „Guarani“ (which means „warrior“) between the Rio de la Plata and the orinoco-Delta, the Atlantic ocean and the Andes. Periodical hikes in different directions in order to search for the „Land without evil“.

Approximately 1513 - 1518
Migratory movemen of the "Guarani" to the west leads once again to a clash with the Inca empire. Spreading of the rumors about mountains and cities made out of noble metal in the west.

1524
Alejo Garcia durchquert als erster Europäer den Chaco.

1537
Founding of todays capital Asunción through the Spanish.

1610 - 1767
Founding of communities through the jesuit brothers for the security of the Indus. Because of a command from the spanish king, the communities were closed down and the Jesuits banished.

May 14th 1811
Declaration of independence (the spanisch colombian period lasted 268 years, brought along slavery and banishment of the natives).

1813 - 1840
Diktator Dr. Rodríguez de Francia (isolation from the rest of the world).

1840 - 1862
Presindency of Carlos Antonio López: Opening of the borders, economical bloom, biggest armee of Latin America.

1864 - 1870
Triple – alliance – war under the dictator Franscisco Solano López against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. In addition to that, a horrible cholera - epidemic developed. After 6 years of war, Paraguay had lost around ¾ of its population, there were approximately only 18000 men left in the country. Large parts of the national territory were lost as well.

1870 - 1954
40 changes of governemt, often accompanied by bloody riots.

1932 - 1935
Chaco-war agains Bolivia, territorial losses of Paraguay.

1954 - 1989
Dictatorship of General Alfredo Stroessner.

03.02.1989
Downfall, dismissal of Stroessner through General Adrés Rodriguez, acknowledgement to be president through Wahlen, Stroessner found dead in 2006 in the brazillian exil.

20.06.1992
Adoption of the current democratic constituion.

15.08.1993
Inauguration of the civil Juan Carlos Wasmosy, who was democratically voted to be president on the 10.05.1993.

22.04.1996
Attempted coup of General Lino Oviedo (1999 – 2004 in the brazillian exil, now back imprisoned in the country of Paraguay).

15.08.1998
Inauguration of presdent Cubas Grau.

23.03.1999
Assassination of the vice president Dr. Luis Argaña.

26.-28.03.1999
Riots, Resignation of president Cubas Grau.

28.03.1999
Nomination of the senetary president Luis Angel Gonzáles Macchi (ANR) to the state president.

27.04.2003
Election victory of the colorado-president canidate Nicanor Duarte Frutos.

15.08.2003
Assumption of office of the governance of Duearte Frutos.

19.02.2006
Advantage of the presindent by the colorado-internal elections, rest of the party presidency because of the incompatiblity according to the constitution.

05.+ 06.03.2007
EA premiere: German president in Paraguay!
On his trip around south america, Paraguay was the first country Mister President Horst Köhler payed a visit, even before he went to Brazil and Colombia. It can be considered as a premiere, because it was the first german state visit ever.

20.04.2008
Historic change of power in Paraguay: The former bishop Fernando Lugo ended the Colorado-Party's authority after 61 years and becomes the new president of the south american country. In an early tv interview Lugo talked about a "date that is full of history": In the future, Paraguay will not be known for its "corruption and poverty" any more, but for its "honesty".