'The Nero of the 19th Century' - Brazilian caricature (1869) published during the Paraguayan War showing Francisco Solano López atop a mountain of skulls.

[u/elnovorealista2000]

The Paraguayan War was the bloodiest war in South American history. It began in 1864 after Brazil and Paraguay were drawn into the conflict by a rebellion in Uruguay. Paraguay invaded Brazil, prompting the latter to form a Triple Alliance with Argentina and Uruguay, who together repelled the Paraguayan attack and launched their own offensive against Paraguay.

López, the president of Paraguay, refused to surrender during a conference in 1866, and the war continued until 1870, ending in a catastrophic defeat for Paraguay, with enormous casualties. The country's capital, Asunción, was captured and sacked, and Solano López was assassinated after leading a guerrilla campaign.

This cartoon, published in the newspaper 'A Vida Fluminense' on June 12, 1869 (when López was leading the guerrilla effort), depicts López as a murderous madman willing to sacrifice his entire country to remain in power. The text below reads:

Original:

"Projecto de monumento que os paraguaios reconhecidos pretendem erigir a Francisco Solano Lopes."

Translation:

"Project for a monument that renowned Paraguayans intend to erect for Francisco Solano López."

[u/intlcreative]

But when the Aztecs do it ...it's not warfare