Battle of Alcañiz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Alcañiz
Part of the Peninsular War
Location in Spain
Date 23 May 1809 Location Alcañiz, west of Teruel, Spain 41°03′00″N 0°07′48″E / 41.0500°N 0.1300°E / 41.0500; 0.1300 Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
French Empire	Kingdom of Spain
Commanders and leaders
Louis Gabriel Suchet	Joaquín Blake y Joyes
Strength
8,000	9,000
Casualties and losses
700 dead or wounded	300 dead or wounded

The Battle of Alcañiz was an important fight during the Peninsular War. It happened on May 23, 1809, near the town of Alcañiz in Spain. In this battle, the Spanish army, led by General Joaquín Blake y Joyes, defeated the French army. The French forces were under the command of Major-General Louis Gabriel Suchet.

This victory was largely due to the amazing skill of General Martín García-Loygorri. He was in charge of the Spanish artillery, which are the big cannons. His cannons fired at just the right time, causing a lot of damage to the French soldiers. General Loygorri was later honored for his bravery and leadership. He became the first artillery officer to receive a very special award called the Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand.

What Led to the Battle?

The Peninsular War was a big conflict in Europe. It involved France, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, fighting against Spain, Portugal, and Great Britain. In early 1809, the war was still going on in Spain. The French army was trying to take control of different areas. The Battle of Alcañiz was one of many battles during this time.

Who Fought in the Battle?

Spanish General Joaquín Blake y Joyes.

Map of the battle area.

The French army was led by General Suchet. He had about 8,000 soldiers. This included around 7,300 infantry (foot soldiers) and 526 cavalry (soldiers on horseback). They also had 18 cannons. His army was divided into two main groups of infantry.

The Spanish army was led by General Blake. He had a slightly larger force of about 9,000 soldiers. This included 8,101 foot soldiers and 445 cavalry. The Spanish also had 19 cannons. General Blake organized his soldiers into three main groups.

How the Battle Ended

The battle was a clear victory for the Spanish forces. The French army, led by General Suchet, lost many soldiers. More than 700 French soldiers were either killed or wounded. The Spanish army had much fewer losses, with only about 300 soldiers killed or wounded.

Because of this important Spanish victory, General Suchet had to pull most of his French troops out of the Aragon region of Spain. This win also helped the Spanish army get many new volunteers. About 25,000 people wanted to join the army. However, there weren't enough weapons for all of them. Even though the Spanish won this battle, General Suchet later got his revenge at the Battle of María in June.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Alcañiz para niños