Aimé Bonpland leaves Paraguay for Argentina (1831)

French botanist Aimé Bonpland departed Paraguay for Argentina in 1831 following his detention. His earlier colony near the Paraná was destroyed in 1821 due to political fears regarding yerba mate monopolization. After being held as a spy until 1829, he returned to Argentina, settling in Corrientes.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Aimé Bonpland established a colony at Santa Ana in 1821 to harvest yerba mate. This territory was claimed by both Paraguay and Argentina. Dictator José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia feared Bonpland's success would interfere with his own monopoly attempts. Consequently, Paraguayans destroyed the colony in December 1821, arresting Bonpland as a spy.

Detention. Following the destruction of his colony, Bonpland was detained at Santa Maria, Paraguay, until 1829. His release marked the end of his imprisonment. In 1831, he returned to Argentina, where he settled at San Borja in Corrientes. This departure followed his long detention in Paraguay.

Geographical Context. Paraguay is a landlocked country in central South America, bordering Argentina to the southeast, south, and west. Argentina is located in the far south of South America, sharing borders with Paraguay to the north. Bonpland's movement from Paraguay to Argentina involved crossing these international boundaries.

People involved

Sources

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