A landlocked republic in south central South America; achieved independence from Spain in 1811

The history of Paraguay encompasses thousands of years of human habitation.

The dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner, colloquially known as El Stronismo or El Stronato, was the period of almost 35 years in the history of Paraguay in which army general Alfredo Stroessner ruled the country as a de facto one-party state under an authoritarian military dictatorship, from 15 August 1954 to 3 February 1989.

The independence of Paraguay de facto started on 14 May 1811 after the Revolution of May 14 when a local ruling junta was created.