This phrase refers to a pivotal event in Uruguayan history that occurred on April 19, 1825. On this date, a group of military men known as the Thirty-Three Orientals, led by Juan Antonio Lavalleja, crossed the Ro de la Plata from present-day Argentina and disembarked at Agraciada Beach. Their objective was to launch an insurrection to expel the occupying forces of the Empire of Brazil, which had annexed the territory as the Cisplatine Province.
The action initiated a revolutionary movement known as the Cruzada Libertadora (Liberating Crusade). The group's motto, "Libertad o Muerte" (Liberty or Death), became a powerful symbol for the independence cause. This landing directly triggered the Cisplatine War (18251828) between the United Provinces of the Ro de la Plata (a precursor to Argentina) and the Empire of Brazil. Although the number "thirty-three" is traditionally cited, historical analysis suggests the actual number of participants may have been different; it now holds largely symbolic value.
The ultimate consequence of the conflict sparked by this event was the 1828 Treaty of Montevideo, which, through British mediation, established the Oriental Republic of Uruguay as an independent and sovereign buffer state. Consequently, April 19th is commemorated in Uruguay as a national public holiday. It celebrates a foundational act of national heroism that directly led to the country's independence and the formation of its national identity.
