Conclusion of Spanish rule--Situation of the victors--Rival claims--Alvear defeats a Uruguayan force--Montevideo remains in possession of Buenos Aires--Rural Uruguay supports Artigas--Alliance of the Argentine littoral provinces with the Orientales--Some intrigues and battles--Success of the Uruguayans--Departure from Montevideo of the Buenos Aires garrison--The Uruguayans enter into possession of their capital--Some crude methods of government--Trials of the inhabitants--Growth of Artigas's power--The Buenos Aires directors undertake a propitiatory measure--A grim human offering--Attitude of the Uruguayan Protector--Negotiations and their failure--The civil progress of Uruguay--Formation of departments--The Portuguese invade the country once again--Condition of the inhabitants--Fierce resistance to the invaders--A campaign against heavy odds--The Portuguese army enters Montevideo--War continued by the provinces--Invasion of Brazil by the Oriental forces--Crushing defeats suffered by the army of invasion--Final struggles--The flight of Artigas--Uruguay passes under Portuguese rule. The defeated eagle was fluttering slowly homeward with broken wing. But its departure did not leave the battlefield empty. It was the turn now of the victorious hawks to rend each other. Alvear had arrived from Buenos Aires, and was now in charge of the newly won city. Scarcely had he begun his work of organisation, however, when Otorgues, Artigas's chief lieutenant, appeared at Las Piedras in the neighbourhood of the capital, and in the name of his leader demanded that the place should be handed over to the Uruguayans. Alvear's answer was unexpected and to the point. Marching his army through the darkness, he fell upon Otorgues's forces in the middle of the night, shattering them completely. Thus the Buenos Aires authorities remained for the time being masters of the city. As for their sway, the Montevideans broke out into bitter complaints that the Spanish dominion had been liberal and lenient by comparison. However this may have been, it is certain that those families noted for their allegiance to Artigas were subjected to severe penalties and restrictions.