Havlancan War of Independence
| Havlancan War of Independence | |||||||||
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 Charge of the Cavalry by Guilherme Litran depicting the charge of Confederation Army gaúcho cavalrymen at the Battle of Ponta Grossa | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Gaúcho Rebellion (1835-36) Baixa Havlanca (1836-39) Alta Havlanca (1839)After 1839:  Havlancan ConfederationSupported By:  Argentina Blancos |
 Empire of Brazil | ||||||||
The Havlancan War of Independence also known as the Ragamuffin War was a war between Havlanca and the Empire of Brazil. Initially a republican revolution sparked by gaúcho rebels in protest of the Empire's harsh tax policies on its wealthy southern provinces after its defeat in the Cisplatine War, Brazil's general instability and economic mismanagement further incentivized rebels. The abolition of slavery was one of the demands of the main demands of the movement with many slaves mobilizing as the war escalated, organizing units such as the Black Lancer Regiment of Death. The revolution gained widespread popular support across classes over time and acquired a separatist character as Brazil attempted to crack down and it became clear that there was no hope for negotiation.
In 1836 Baixa Havlanca declared its independence from Brazil and its intention to unify with Upper Havlanca (Santa Catarina and Paraná as a federal state. After overcoming the intial shock of the rebellion, Brazil launched several bloodyoffensives against Baixa Havlanca throughout 1837 and 1838 but failed to achieve any notable gains. Cruicially, Brazil could not cut off the flow of equipment, ammunition, and volunteers arriving from the Argentina Confederation and Uruguay until the French blockade of the Río de la Plata. In 1839 Brazilian lines in Baixa Havlanca collapsed amidst an uprising in Santa Catarina with Alta Havlanca proclaiming its independence. The Brazilian Army retreated north Paraná, successfully putting down a new uprising and consolidating their positions in preparation for an attack, with a stalement subsequently ensuing.
The stalemate was broken in 1840 as the Havlancan Confederation launched an offensive into Paraná, however they were defeated at the First Battle of Curitiba and also forced to abandon Araucária, suffering heavy losses. Brazil gained the upper hand and pushed most Havlancan forces out of Paraná with only Fransisco Beltrão and Pato Branco remaining under separatis control. Cruicially however the French blockade of the Río de la Plata was lifted and Argentina sent scores of supplies to Havlanca in a larger scale than before allowing the depeleted Havlancans to rearm their forces. The Offensive of 1841 swung the war back in Havlanca's favour with its troops managing to capture Paranaguá, Araucária, Guarapuava and Cascavel while also besieging Curitiba.
In 1842 the decisive clash of the war would take place near Ponta Grossa, the last major stronghold for Brazilian troops near the Paraná frontline. Havlanca broke of troops to launch a sneak attack on the city to hold off expected reinforcements heading to assist Curitiba for as long as possible, resulting in the bloodiest battle in South American history. The outnumbered Havlancans ambushed Brazilian troops just south of Ponta Grossa and held their positions against waves of Brazilian counterattacks until bolstered by reinforcements from Guapruava. Brazilian troops retreated back to the city and attempted to hold out for as long as possible, however Curitiba surrendered and the sharp economic downturn from the war forced Brazil to order a general retreat from Paraná.
After a few years of tit for tat offensives along the border, Brazil relented in 1845 and recognised the independence of Havlanca.