Between 1680 and 1683 Portuguese colonizers, challenging Spanish sovereignty in the region, established settlements on the shores of Rio de la Plata, just opposite to Buenos Aires, and Colonia del Sacramento is one of these examples.

Spanish conquerors did not try to evict the Portuguese until 1723, when they decided to fortify the hills surrounding Montevideo bay.

A Spanish expedition that came from Buenos Aires, organized by the Spanish governor of that city, Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, forced the Portuguese to leave the place.