¿HUNDIR LA FLOTA CHILENA? LA AMENAZA EXTRANJERA AL MOMENTO DE LA OCUPACIÓN DE LIMA EN ENERO DE 1881: LA LEYENDA, LA REALIDAD

The supposed threat of the foreign naval forces stationed in Callao, and particularly that of the French Rear-Admiral du Petit-Thouars, to sink the Chilean fleet in case of a violent entry to Lima in January 1881, has generated divergent positions among Chilean, Peruvian and foreign historians. From an extension of the sources, several of them until now unpublished, this work wants to elucidate the truth about the existence or not of this threat, its origin and if it was really manifested before the high Chilean military authorities. These clarifications allow to properly understand the real role of the European powers in the War of the Pacific and to clarify visions on supposed supports of these to one or another side in conflict.