He limited the power of the army by declaring that no rank above captain could be achieved, and that after three years of service officers were to be retired.

Although no formal wars were fought, conflicts with the Chaco Indians, particularly the sub-groups of the Guaykuru tribes, raged in the borderlands.

After Francia's death in 1840, Carlos Antonio López assumed power and modernized the army and expanded the navy.

He opened an iron foundry at Ybycuí that produced arms and bullets and also built up a railway system in the country to transport troops and materiel.

Despite Paraguayan numerical superiority and initial success, the allies soon upped their game and Paraguay eventually found itself surrounded.

Despite constant defeat on the field by the allies, the Paraguayans did not capitulate until Lopez had been killed in 1870, in the Battle of Cerro Corá, having been on the run with his 200 remaining men.

Each of the nine divisions that make up the three corps has one or two regiments of infantry or cavalry, its platoon of engineers, its communications section, military police units, etc.

It is important to note that the two most famous military leaders of Independent Paraguay, Francisco Solano López (during his own lifetime) and José Félix Estigarribia (after his death) were distinguished with the rank of Field Marshal of the Paraguayan Armies.