Army of Galicia facts for kids
The Army of Galicia (in Spanish, Ejército de Galicia) was a Spanish army group. It fought against Napoleon's French army during the Peninsular War.
It was formed in June 1808 by the Spanish government (called the Supreme Junta). Its job was to defend the Cantabrian mountains from the French. The army was supposed to have 43,000 soldiers. General Blake was its first commander. Later, in November 1808, General La Romana took command.
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Early Battles
Battle of Medina del Rio Seco
After General Gregorio García de la Cuesta's small army was defeated at the Battle of Cabezón, he had to leave Valladolid. General Blake was told to combine his new army with Cuesta's remaining soldiers. Blake first said no because his troops were still training and not fully ready.
Blake set out with 27,000 foot soldiers and 150 cavalry. He left some troops in garrisons along the way. When Blake met Cuesta at Benavente, their combined forces were about 22,000 men.
Cuesta, being older, insisted on taking supreme command, even though Blake disagreed. Cuesta wanted to march on Valladolid to get his city back. On July 12, he marched his troops, leaving them open to a French attack. Because the Spanish commanders disagreed, their troops were defeated on July 14. This happened at the Battle of Medina del Rio Seco. Cuesta failed to keep his troops close to Blake's, which led to their loss.
Bilbao and Zornoza
On October 11, 1808, General Blake entered Bilbao. This forced French General Merlin to retreat 32 km (20 mi) to Zornosa. Merlin had entered Bilbao in August to stop a revolt against King Joseph.
After the French lost badly at the Battle of Bailén in July 1808, Blake positioned his army near the Ebro river. On October 31, 24,000 French soldiers attacked Blake's 19,000 men at Zornoza. Blake quickly retreated. This clever move stopped Napoleon's plan to surround and destroy the Spanish army.
Battle of Valmaseda
Napoleon arrived in Vitoria on November 8 to take charge. He sent French Marshals Lefebvre and Victor to chase Blake. Victor was ordered to outsmart Blake and block his escape route. The French were careless and spread out during their pursuit.
On November 5, Blake surprised his enemies again. At Valmaseda, he suddenly turned and attacked the French leading division. He defeated them. When another French army group came closer, Blake moved west again to avoid being surrounded.
Espinosa and New Command
Battle of Espinosa
General La Romana had successfully reached Santander with 9,000 men. These men were part of a Spanish division that had been in Denmark. On November 11, 1808, Romana was given command of the Army of Galicia.
However, on that same day, the Army of Galicia was still under Blake's command. It was badly beaten at Espinosa de los Monteros, 100 km (62 mi) away in the Cantabrian Mountains. Blake had decided to make another stand there on November 10. Victor, wanting revenge for his earlier defeats by Blake, recklessly attacked the Spanish troops all day without success. But the next day, a well-planned French attack broke Blake's center and scattered his army.
Blake lost 3,000 men in the battle. Thousands more were lost in the confused retreat. Blake knew his Army of Galicia was too damaged to fight. He marched west into the hills, getting away from his pursuers. He also performed important actions to help General Moore's British army retreat to Corunna.
Blake reached Léon on November 23 with only 10,000 men. Command was then given to General La Romana. He took charge of the new "Ejército de la Izquierda" (Army of the Left) on November 26. In July 1809, this army also included regiments from Asturias under Francisco Ballesteros.
Later Victories
Battle of Villafranca
On March 17, 1809, General La Romana's troops defeated the French at the Battle of Villafranca. This was a French garrison at Villafranca del Bierzo.
After Marshal Ney was defeated at the Battle of Puente Sanpayo in June 1809, Marshal Soult gave up trying to control Galicia. When Soult moved to fight the British near the Portuguese border, Romana was able to drive the French out of Asturias as well.
Battle of San Marcial
At the Battle of San Marcial on August 31, 1813, the IV Ejército (IV Army), also known as the Army of Galicia, won a big victory. Under General Manuel Freire de Andrade, they defeated Marshal Soult. This was Soult's last major attack against the allied forces led by Wellington. Freire had become a general in early August 1813.
See Also
In Spanish: Ejército de Galicia para niños
