Battle of Belchite (1809)
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2014) |
Battle of Belchite | |||||||
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Part of the Peninsular War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
French Empire Duchy of Warsaw | Kingdom of Spain | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Louis Suchet |
Joaquín Blake | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
13,000[1] | 12,000[1] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
200[1] | 2,000[1] |
The Battle of Belchite on 18 June 1809 saw a Franco-Polish corps led by
Background
The Spanish campaign in early 1809 started with the Battle of Uclés.
Prelude
Blake advanced down the
Battle
After joining with Aréizaga's division, Blake was only able to muster 11,000 infantry, 870 cavalry, and nine guns. He drew up this force on some hills in front of the town of Belchite. After Suchet ordered Laval to join him, he massed 12,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry, and 12 artillery pieces for the battle. The French general paid no attention to the Spanish center and instead sent his two divisions to attack the enemy flanks. General of Division
The French swept forward, killing, wounding, or capturing 2,000 Spaniards. They seized all nine of Blake's cannons plus one color and a quantity of food and equipment. Suchet reported losses of 200 killed and wounded. Leaving Musnier's division to observe Blake's survivors, Suchet marched back to Zaragoza.
Aftermath
The guerilla war proceeded till the end of the Peninsular war.
The Spanish conventional warfare proceeded till the end of the Peninsular war.
The British intervention proceeded till the end of the Peninsular war.
Napoleon had ended his invasion of Spain with the occupation of Madrid.
The Corunna campaign had ended with the withdrawal of the British army from Spain.
The Spanish campaign in early 1809 had ended.
The Second Portuguese campaign started with the Battle of Braga.
Notes
- ^ a b c d e Bodart 1908, p. 408.
- ^ Esdaile 2003, p. 188.
References
- Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905). Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- Esdaile, Charles J. (2003). The Peninsular War. Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN 9781403962317. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- Gates, David (2002). The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War. London: Pimlico. ISBN 0-7126-9730-6.
- Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.
External links
- Media related to Battle of Belchite (1809) at Wikimedia Commons