Battle of Belchite (1809) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Belchite
Part of the Peninsular War
Date 18 June 1809 Location Belchite, Spain 41°18′N 0°45′W / 41.300°N 0.750°W / 41.300; -0.750 Result Franco-Polish victory
Belligerents
French Empire Duchy of Warsaw	Kingdom of Spain
Commanders and leaders
Louis Suchet	Joaquín Blake
Strength
13,000	12,000
Casualties and losses
200	2,000

The Battle of Belchite was a fight that took place on June 18, 1809. It was part of the Peninsular War, which was a big conflict during the Napoleonic Wars. In this battle, a French and Polish army, led by General Louis Gabriel Suchet, fought against a smaller Spanish army, led by General Joaquín Blake y Joyes. The battle happened near the town of Belchite in Spain, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) southeast of Zaragoza.

What Led to the Battle of Belchite?

The Peninsular War was a long and difficult conflict in Spain and Portugal. In early 1809, the French forces were trying to take control of more areas in Spain.

How the Armies Met

General Suchet took charge of the French III Corps. His first goal was to push General Blake's Spanish army out of a region called Aragon. The two armies first met at the Battle of Alcañiz on May 23. The Spanish army won that battle, stopping the French attack. This victory made 25,000 new volunteers join Blake's army, but many of them didn't have weapons.

Blake's army then moved along the Huerva River. Suchet, being careful, first fought defensively at the Battle of María on June 15. He sent a small group of 2,000 soldiers to watch one part of Blake's army. Suchet waited for more French soldiers to arrive. Once they did, he attacked the Spanish army, forcing them to retreat. The next day, Suchet kept pushing forward. Blake decided not to fight again and pulled his army back even further. After this defeat, about 3,000 of Blake's new soldiers left the army.

The Battle Unfolds

After joining up with another Spanish division, General Blake had about 11,000 foot soldiers, 870 cavalry (soldiers on horseback), and nine cannons. He set up his army on some hills in front of Belchite. General Suchet then brought all his forces together. He had 12,000 foot soldiers, 1,000 cavalry, and 12 cannons.

The Explosive Ending

Instead of attacking the middle of the Spanish army, Suchet sent his two main groups of soldiers to attack the sides. One French general, Louis François Félix Musnier, attacked the Spanish left side, pushing them back towards the town. Another general, Pierre-Joseph Habert, attacked the Spanish right side.

As Habert's attack was just starting, something incredible happened. A French cannonball hit a Spanish wagon carrying artillery supplies. The fire quickly spread to other wagons filled with ammunition. Soon, there was a huge explosion as Blake's entire gunpowder supply blew up!

When the Spanish soldiers saw and heard this giant blast, they panicked. Many threw down their guns and ran away as fast as they could.

The French army then rushed forward. They killed, wounded, or captured about 2,000 Spanish soldiers. They also took all nine of Blake's cannons, one of his flags, and a lot of food and equipment. General Suchet reported that his army lost only 200 soldiers killed or wounded. After the battle, Suchet left some soldiers to watch the remaining Spanish forces and then marched back to Zaragoza.

What Happened After the Battle?

The Battle of Belchite was a clear victory for the French and Polish forces. It showed the strength of General Suchet's army in the region. Even though this battle was a French victory, the Peninsular War continued for many more years. There were still many small battles and a long guerrilla war where Spanish fighters used surprise attacks against the French. The war finally ended much later, changing the history of Spain.