Battle of Jenipapo

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Battle of Jenipapo
Part of the Brazilian War of Independence
Battle of Jenipapo.
Date March 13, 1823 Location Near the river Jenipapo in Piauí, Brazil Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Empire of Brazil	Kingdom of Portugal
Commanders and leaders
Luís Rodrigues Chaves Francisco Inácio da Costa	João José da Cunha Fidié
Strength
2,000 militia[1] 2 cannons	1,600 regulars[1] 11 cannons
Casualties and losses
742:[1] 200 killed and wounded 542 prisoners	79:[1] 19 killed 60 wounded

The Battle of Jenipapo was fought near the Jenipapo river in the then province of Piauí, on 13 March 1823, between the Imperial Brazilian Army and the Portuguese Army during the Brazilian War of Independence.

The battle was decisive for the independence of Brazil and consolidation of its national sovereign. The action involved Brazilian forces from Piauí, Ceará and Maranhão that engaged the Portuguese forces of Major John Fidié José da Cunha, charged with keeping the north of the former Portuguese colony loyal to the Crown. The Brazilians fought with farming tools, and had neither combat experience nor military training. The Piauians lost the battle, but their resistance made the Portuguese troops divert from their original destination. Had Fidié continued the march to Oeiras, the capital of Piauí at that time, the Piauians may not have had sufficient strength to deal with the larger Portuguese forces. It was one of the fiercest and bloodiest battles fought in the war of independence of Brazil.

Though widely cited by the historiography, the battle was largerly forgotten, and few Brazilians know of the incident, even in Piauí, where the events occurred. But, after a campaign led by politicians, historians and the public, the date of the action was added to the flag of Piauí. There are ongoing efforts to include the Battle of Jenipapo in the educational curriculum. During the celebrations of March 13, the city of Campo Maior awards the Merit Medal of Heroes of Jenipapo to people and institutions whose actions had helped to improve community life in Piauí. The Governor of Piauí, meanwhile, awards the Piauí Renaissance, an order of merit.