It was 1806, and Europe was in the middle of The Napoleonic Wars. Spain was allied to France and Britain was against them. The British navy was defeated in Europe, but Spain had many colonies in South America, such as Buenos Aires and Montevideo (by then part of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata), barely defended. So, William Popham sailed to Buenos Aires and conquered the city. Viceroy Rafael de Sobremonte escaped with the treasury to Cordoba, but was captured on the way. Santiago de Liniers noticed that the British were too few, so he left to Montevideo, gathered soldiers, and launched a counter-attack to drive the British away before they got reinforcements. John Whitelocke launched a second invasion with an army tenfold bigger, and started by Montevideo this time. Liniers prepared the defense of Buenos Aires, and this time everybody available was called to arms (even the slaves and the indians). After a fierce battle, the British were defeated again. There was no third invasion because by then in Europe Napoleon invaded Spain, and the Spanish resistance switched sides to the British.
Tropes
- Art Imitates Art: Popham surrenders to Liniers, in a scene similar to the famous portrait of the event.
- Common Knowledge: In-Universe. The story starts in the modern day, in a British school, where a student says that he had read in internet that the Argentines won two wars against Britain with boiling oil. The teacher told him it was all a lie... the Argentine victories? No the part of the boiling oil.
- Benevolent Conspiracy: Some people hidden in a library organized a resistance against the British. Want to enter? The password is talking about the authors that will drive away the British literature...
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: The people of Buenos Aires managed to get the viceroy Sobremonte ousted, and replaced by the popular Liniers. There were cries of "Que se vayan todos!", used in 2001 against president Fernando de la Rua.
- Evil Is Petty: Marco del Pont tried to get in good terms with the British and offered some Dulce de Leche, and the man took it all... silver plate and jar included.
- Historical Villain Upgrade: This is written in Argentina by a left-wing author, so it goes without saying that the British will be portrayed as greedy thieves and ruthless conquerors.
- Not in This for Your Revolution: Many slaves rioted after the first attack, thinking that the British had come to free them. The British had to print banners ordering all slaves to stay loyal to their masters.
- What If?: The final panel wonders what would have happened if The British Invasion (the musical one) started in Argentina rather than in Britain. We see The Beatles in a room filled with posters of Argentine rock stars.
- While Rome Burns: Viceroy Rafael de Sobremonte was attending a theater play when the British launched the surprise attack.
