List of wars involving Nicaragua

Last updated

This is a list of wars involving the Republic of Nicaragua .

ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultsHead of State
Nicaraguan Independence Movements
(18111812)
Nicaraguan revolutionaries Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Spanish Empire Defeat
  • Revolts suppressed
José de Salvador y Antoli
Civil war of 1824
(1824)
Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg Fiebres Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg Timbucos Fiebres victory José Anacleto Ordóñez
Cerda-Argüello War
(18271828)
Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg Liberal Federalists Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg Conservative Federalists Liberal victory Juan Argüello del Castillo
Flores' Rebellion
(1834)
Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg Nicaraguan Government Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg Anti-Constitutionalist Rebels Government victory
  • Cándido Flores is defeated in Managua and later flees Granada
José Núñez

Invasion of Guanacaste
(1836)

Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg Nicaragua
Flag of Costa Rica (1824-1840).svg Costa Ricans exiled

Flag of Costa Rica (1824-1840).svg Costa Rica

Defeat

  • Withdrawal of Nicaraguan forces
Manuel Quijano
Malespín's War
(18441845)
Allied victory [1] [2] Emiliano Madriz
Blas Antonio Sáenz
Silvestre Selva
Recapture of San Juan del Norte
(1848)
Flag of Nicaragua (1839-1858).svg Nicaragua Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of Moskitia.webp Kingdom of Mosquitia
Defeat José María Guerrero
Granada-León Civil War
(18531855)
Flag of Nicaragua (1839-1858).svg Legitimists Flag of Nicaragua (1839-1858).svg Democrats Stalemate Fruto Chamorro
Francisco Castellón
Filibuster War
(18551857)
Central American alliance victory Fruto Chamorro
William Walker
Barrios' War of Reunification
(1885)
Anti-Barrios victory Adán Cárdenas
Nicaragua Crisis of 1895
(18941895)
Flag of Nicaragua (1858-1889 and 1893-1896).svg Nicaragua Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Victory José Santos Zelaya
Honduran Civil War
(19061907)
Liberal Party of Honduras logo.svg Liberal Rebels
Flag of Nicaragua (1896-1908).svg Nicaragua
Flag of Honduras (1898-1949).svg Honduras
Flag of El Salvador.svg El Salvador
Victory
  • Dávila becomes President of Honduras
Estrada's Rebellion
(19091910)
Flag of Nicaragua (1908-1971).svg Liberal Government Flag of Nicaragua (1908-1971).svg Conservative Rebels
Flag of the United States (1908-1912).svg United States
Regime change
  • Estrada recognized as President of Nicaragua
Mena's Rebellion
(1912)
Flag of Nicaragua (1908-1971).svg Conservative Government
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States
Flag of Nicaragua (1908-1971).svg Liberal Rebels Government victory
  • Liberal rebels exiled to Panama
Adolfo Díaz
World War I
(1918)
Allied Powers:
 and Empire:

and others ...

Central Powers:

and others ...

Allied Powers victory (see Aftermath of World War I) Emiliano Chamorro Vargas
Constitutionalist War
(1926 [3] 1927)
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaraguan Government
(Conservatives)
Supported by:
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaraguan rebels
(Liberals)
Supported by:
Flag of Mexico (1916-1934).svg Mexico (provided weapons and supplies) [4]
Peace of Tipitapa
Sandinistas War
(19271933)
Flag of Nicaragua (1908-1971).svg Conservative Government
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States
Flag of Nicaragua (1908-1971).svg Sandinistas Government victory
  • Sandinistas surrender their weapons
Adolfo Díaz
World War II
(19411945)

Allies
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg Soviet Union
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of the Republic of China.svg China
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg France
Flag of Poland.svg Poland
Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg Canada
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
British Raj Red Ensign.svg  India
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa
Yugoslav Partisans flag 1945.svg  Yugoslavia
Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Flag of Norway.svg Norway
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg Brazil
Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg Mexico
Flag of Panama.svg Panama
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica
Flag of El Salvador.svg El Salvador
Flag of Guatemala (1871-1968).svg Guatemala
Flag of Honduras (1898-1949).svg Honduras
Flag of Nicaragua (1908-1971).svg Nicaragua
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic
Flag of Cuba (1902-1906).svg Cuba

Axis
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Germany
Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg  Japan
Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Italy
Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946).svg  Hungary
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
Flag of Independent State of Croatia.svg Croatia
Flag of First Slovak Republic 1939-1945.svg Slovakia
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Flag of Manchukuo.svg  Manchukuo
Flag of the Mengjiang.svg  Mengjiang

Allied victory Anastasio Somoza García
Costa Rican Civil War
(1948)
State Flag of Costa Rica (1906-1964).svg Government of Costa Rica
Bandera Partido Republicano Nacional (1932-1952) Costa Rica.svg Calderon forces
Bandera Partido Vanguardia Popular Costa Rica.svg People's Vanguard Party
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaraguan National Guard

Bandera de Partido Liberacion Nacional.svg National Liberation Army
Bandera Partido Union Nacional 1948 Costa Rica.svg Ulatista Forces
Caribbean Legion
Supported by:Flag of Guatemala.svg Guatemala
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States

Rebel victory Víctor Manuel Román
Invasion of Costa Rica
(1955)
Bandera Partido Republicano Nacional (1932-1952) Costa Rica.svg Calderón forces

Supported by:
Flag of Nicaragua (1908-1971).svg Nicaragua
Flag of Venezuela (1954-2006).svg Venezuela
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic


Flag of Guatemala.svg Guatemala (Diplomatic Support)

Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica
Supported by:
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States Flag of the Organization of American States.svg Organization of American States

Costa Rican government victory Anastasio Somoza García
Dominican Civil War
(1965)
Bandera de las Fuerzas Armadas (Engalanada en los bordes).svg Loyalist faction
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Constitutionalist faction Loyalist victory
  • Ceasefire declared
  • Formation of the provisional government for new elections
  • Deposition of Juan Bosch of the presidency ratified
  • Organization of presidential elections in 1966 under international supervision
  • Election of Joaquín Balaguer as the new president
  • Establishment of the Fourth Dominican Republic on July 1, 1966
René Schick
Nicaraguan Revolution
(19611990)
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Somoza regime (1961–1979)

Bandera Resistencia Nicaraguense.png Contras (1981–1990)


Supported by:
Flag of the United States.svg United States

Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg Honduras (from 1981) [6] [7]







Supported by:
Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba

Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union [25]


Sandinista victory
  • Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami in July 1979, relinquishing control of the government.
  • A five-member provisional government takes its place. [41]
  • The right-wing Contras begin an armed insurgency against the Sandinistas in 1981 which continues until 1990.
  • The Tela Accord is signed in 1989 and the Sandinista party is defeated in the 1990 election, bringing the armed revolution to an end.
  • Sandinistas led by Daniel Ortega are re-elected in 2006 and remain in power until today.
Anastasio Somoza Debayle
Daniel Ortega
Miskito Conflict
(1982–1987)
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua Flag of the Mosquito Monarchy.svg Miskito GuerrillasVictory
  • Guerillas defeated
Daniel Ortega
Operation Golden Pheasant
(1988)
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg Honduras
Defeat
  • Withdrawal of Nicaraguan forces from Honduran territory
Iraq War
(20032004)
Flag of Iraq.svg Iraq
Flag of Kurdistan.svg Iraqi Kurdistan
Flag of Multi-National Force - Iraq.png MNF–I
Flag of Iraq (1991-2004).svg SCJL
Flag of Iraq (1991-2004).svg Naqshbandi Army
Flag of the Islamic State in Iraq.svg ISI
Flag of al-Qaeda in Iraq.svg al-Qaeda
Flag of Iraq (1991-2004).svg FIA
Flag of Ansar al-Islam.svg Ansar al-Islam
IAI
Flag of Promised Day Brigades.svg Mahdi Army
Shiism arabic blue.svg Special Groups
Flag placeholder.svg Badr Brigades
Flag placeholder.svg Kata'ib Hezbollah
Victory Enrique Bolaños
Isla Calero Conflict

(2010)

Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua Flag of Costa Rica (state).svg Costa Rica Defeat Daniel Ortega

Footnotes

  1. The Russian Empire during 1914–1917, the Russian Republic during 1917. The Bolsheviks signed an armistice followed by a separate peace shortly after their armed seizure of power.

References

  1. Carrillo, Agustín Gómez (1927). "Elementos de la historia de Centro-América".
  2. "Revista del Archivo y de la Biblioteca Nacional de Honduras". 1905.
  3. Musicant 1990, p. 291.
  4. Macaulay 1998, p. 26.
  5. Lawrence Yates (July 1988). "Power Pack: U.S. Intervention in the Dominican Republic 1965–1966" (PDF). Lawrence Papers. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  6. "Origin and Development of the Contra Conflict". Federation of American Scientists . Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  7. McManus, Doyle (6 March 1987). "Private Contra Funding of $32 Million Disclosed : Leader Shows Secret Bank Data in Effort to Prove Rebels Did Not Get Money From Iran Arms Sales". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  8. Williams, Dan (1986-10-17). "New Light Falls on a Not-So Secret Secret: Salvador's Help for the Contras". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  9. Meislin, Richard (1987-02-28). "Guatemala aided Contras, despite denials, panel says". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2017-11-02. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  10. 1 2 Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada (1 May 1989). "Participation of Costa Rican government in arms smuggling, for Sandinistas in 1979 and for Contras in mid-1980's". UNHCR. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  11. "The Contras, Cocaine, and Covert Operations" . Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  12. The Pinochet File: A Declassified Dossier on Atrocity and Accountability. p. 255.
  13. 1 2 "Saudi Arabia and the Reagan Doctrine – Middle East Research and Information Project". December 1988. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  14. Hamilton & Inouye 1995, pp. 165, 271, 481
  15. "CIA-Contra-Crack Cocaine Controversy" . Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  16. "Reagan Says Saudi Talked of Contra Aid". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. 14 May 1987. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  17. "Understanding the Iran-Contra Affairs". www.brown.edu. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  18. 1 2 3 "Poland and China Reportedly Sent Arms to Contras". The New York Times. 2 May 1987. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  19. 1 2 3 Landslide: The Unmaking of the President, 1984–1988. p. 143.
  20. "Understanding the Iran-Contra Affairs – the Iran-Contra Affairs".
  21. "Iran–Contra Hearings; Brunei Regains $10 Million". The New York Times. 22 July 1987. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  22. 1 2 Brown, Jonathan C. (2022). "Omar Torrijos and the Sandinista Revolution" . The Latin Americanist. 66: 25–45. doi:10.1353/tla.2022.0003. S2CID   247623108.
  23. 1 2 Sánchez Nateras, Gerardo (2018). "The Sandinista Revolution and the Limits of the Cold War in Latin America: The Dilemma of Nonintervention During the Nicaraguan Crisis, 1977–78" (PDF). Cold War History . 18 (2): 111–129. doi:10.1080/14682745.2017.1369046. S2CID   218576606.
  24. Dinges 1990, pp. 100–103
  25. "The Soviet Union and Revolutionary Warfare: Principles, Practices, and ..." Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  26. Hamilton & Inouye 1995, p. 169
  27. Hamilton & Inouye 1995, p. 169
  28. Hamilton & Inouye 1995, pp. 216, 485
  29. "Welcome to the Air Combat Information Group".[ dead link ]
  30. "The Soviet Union and Revolutionary Warfare: Principles, Practices, and..." Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  31. Hamilton & Inouye 1995
  32. Hamilton & Inouye 1995, p. 27
  33. Hamilton & Inouye 1995, p. 485
  34. Hamilton & Inouye 1995
  35. Dickey, Christopher (19 July 1981). "Arab States Help Nicaragua Avoid Ties to Superpowers". The Washington Post . Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  36. Echikson, William (15 July 1982). "France Warms Up to Nicaragua – As US Fumes". The Christian Science Monitor . Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  37. "Mexico's Support of the Sandinista Revolution". Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo.
  38. "Our work in Nicaragua". Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (www.sida.se). 2009. Archived from the original on 2013-06-15.
  39. "Sandinistas Find Economic Ally In Socialist Sweden". philly-archives. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  40. Bishop, Adam (2 September 2009). With Them and Against Them: Canada's Relations With Nicaragua, 1979–1990 (Master Thesis). University of Waterloo.
  41. "Daniel Ortega", Encyclopædia Britannica (15th ed.), 1993