War of the Pacific and Territorial Consolidation (1879–1884)

1. Chile occupies Antofagasta port

   Feb 14, 1879Labels: Antofagasta, Chile Army

   Chilean forces occupied the Bolivian port city of Antofagasta, triggering the armed phase of the dispute over nitrate-rich territories and setting the stage for wider war.

   • Britannica
   • Wikipedia

2. Bolivia declares war on Chile

   Mar 1, 1879Labels: Bolivia, Declaration of

   Bolivia formally declared war on Chile after the occupation of Antofagasta, transforming the crisis into an interstate conflict and activating Bolivia’s alliance expectations with Peru.

   • Britannica
   • Wikipedia

3. Battle of Topáter (Calama)

   Mar 23, 1879Labels: Top ter, Calama

   The first major land engagement of the war occurred near Calama at the Topáter ford, as Chilean troops consolidated control over Bolivia’s Litoral region during the initial occupation.

   • Wikipedia
   • Britannica

4. Chile declares war on Peru and Bolivia

   Apr 5, 1879Labels: Chile, Peru

   Chile declared war on both Peru and Bolivia, widening the conflict into a three-state war and linking military outcomes directly to territorial and state-formation questions in the Atacama and southern Peru.

   • Britannica
   • Wikipedia

5. Battles of Iquique and Punta Gruesa

   May 21, 1879Labels: Iquique, Punta Gruesa

   On the same day, Peru won at Iquique (sinking Esmeralda), while Chile won at Punta Gruesa (where Peru lost Independencia). The mixed results shaped the naval campaign and the political narratives of sacrifice and heroism in both countries.

   • Britannica
   • Iquique
   • Punta Gruesa

6. Battle of Angamos captures Huáscar

   Oct 8, 1879Labels: Angamos, Hu scar

   Chile defeated Peru at Angamos and captured the monitor Huáscar, a decisive naval outcome that enabled Chile to control sea lines of communication and support large amphibious landings in contested coastal provinces.

   • Britannica
   • Angamos

7. Chilean landing and victory at Pisagua

   Nov 2, 1879Labels: Pisagua, Amphibious landing

   Chile conducted a major amphibious landing at Pisagua, establishing a beachhead for the Tarapacá Campaign and accelerating Chile’s seizure of the nitrate-producing Peruvian province central to the war’s territorial stakes.

   • Pisagua
   • Britannica

8. Battle of Tarapacá

   Nov 27, 1879Labels: Tarapac, Peru Army

   Peruvian forces won at Tarapacá, but the broader campaign still resulted in Chile consolidating control over the Tarapacá region—critical for revenue and for Chile’s postwar territorial consolidation.

   • Tarapac
   • Britannica

9. Battle of Tacna (Alto de la Alianza)

   May 26, 1880Labels: Tacna, Alto de

   Chile defeated the combined Peruvian-Bolivian army at Tacna, effectively breaking the allied field force and leading to Bolivia’s withdrawal from major military operations—reshaping the conflict into a primarily Chile–Peru war.

   • Tacna
   • Britannica

10. Assault and capture of Arica

    Jun 7, 1880Labels: Arica, Port capture

    Chile captured the port of Arica, securing a strategic logistical hub in the far south of Peru (present-day northern Chile) and strengthening Chile’s bargaining position for postwar territorial arrangements.

    • Arica
    • Britannica

11. Battles of San Juan–Chorrillos and Miraflores

    Jan 13, 1881Labels: San Juan, Miraflores

    Chile won the two principal battles of the Lima campaign (San Juan–Chorrillos on 13 January and Miraflores on 15 January), collapsing Peru’s defenses around the capital and enabling the subsequent occupation of Lima.

    • Chorrillos
    • Miraflores
    • BND Chile

12. Chilean occupation of Lima begins

    Jan 17, 1881Labels: Lima occupation, Chilean forces

    Chilean forces occupied Lima, marking a decisive shift from conventional campaigning to occupation and resistance, and placing Peru under strong pressure to accept a territorial peace settlement.

    • Britannica
    • Miraflores

13. Treaty of Ancón ends Chile–Peru war

    Oct 20, 1883Labels: Treaty of, Tarapac

    Peru and Chile signed the Treaty of Ancón: Peru ceded Tarapacá to Chile and accepted Chilean administration of Tacna and Arica for 10 years pending a plebiscite—core elements of Chile’s wartime territorial consolidation.

    • Britannica
    • Anc n

14. Treaty of Valparaíso truce with Bolivia

    Apr 4, 1884Labels: Treaty of, Antofagasta

    Bolivia and Chile signed the Truce Pact (Treaty of Valparaíso), ending active hostilities between them and leaving Chile in control of the former Bolivian coastal region (Antofagasta), a pivotal step in Bolivia’s long-term landlocked status.

    • Valparaiso
    • Britannica