evidence: In 1811, José Gervasio Artigas, who became Uruguay's national hero, launched a successful revolt against Spain, defeating them on May 18. The Portuguese forces, thanks to their numerical and material superiority, occupied Montevideo on January 20, 1817, and finally after a struggle for three years in the countryside, defeated Artigas. In 1821, the Provincia Oriental del Río de la Plata (present-day Uruguay), was annexed by Brazil. [...] Held on June 19, Natalicio de Artigas celebrates and commemorates the life of the father of Uruguayan independence, Jose Gervasio Artigas. It’s a great day to be in Uruguay, with pride and nationalism spilling out on to the streets of every city, town, and village in the country. Parades, street festivals, dancing, and music provide a truly exhilarating patriotic experience.