Battle of Espinosa de los Monteros facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Espinosa de los Monteros
Part of the Peninsular War
Date 10-11 November 1808 Location Espinosa de los Monteros, southeast of Cantabria, Spain 43°04′00″N 3°32′00″W / 43.0667°N 3.5333°W / 43.0667; -3.5333 Result French victory
Belligerents
French Empire	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Claude Victor	Joaquín Blake Pedro Caro, 3rd Marquis of la Romana
Strength
21,000	23,000
Casualties and losses
1,100	5,400

The Battle of Espinosa de los Monteros was a major fight during the Napoleonic Wars. It happened on November 10 and 11, 1808, in a village called Espinosa de los Monteros in the Cantabrian Mountains of Spain. In this battle, the French army, led by Marshal Victor, defeated the Spanish army, led by Lieutenant General Joaquín Blake.

Why the Battle Happened

This battle was part of the Peninsular War, a big conflict where Spain fought against French rule. The war began after the Dos de Mayo Uprising in May 1808, when the Spanish people rebelled against the French.

Earlier in the war, the Spanish had some successes. For example, they won the Battle of Bailén in July 1808. This was a big deal because it was the first time a French army under Napoleon had been defeated in an open battle. The British also joined the fight to help Spain.

Napoleon himself came to Spain to lead his armies. The Battle of Espinosa de los Monteros was one of the key battles during his invasion.

The Battle Begins

The battle started on November 10, 1808. Marshal Victor, leading the French forces, launched several attacks against the Spanish army. The Spanish soldiers, especially the well-trained troops of General La Romana's "Division of the North," fought bravely. They managed to push back the French attacks, causing heavy losses for the French.

By the end of the first day, the Spanish army still held their positions. They had managed to stop the French advance.

The Second Day of Fighting

On the morning of November 11, Marshal Victor planned a new, bigger attack. This time, the French focused their efforts on the left side of the Spanish army. Their strong attack broke through the Spanish lines. This forced the Spanish soldiers to retreat from the battlefield.

During the retreat, General Acevedo tried to fight back. He led two groups of soldiers, about five thousand each, down a hill. However, they faced heavy gunfire from the French. Many Spanish officers were hurt or killed, including General Quirós who died. General Acevedo and Valdés were also seriously wounded.

The Spanish army, known as the Army of the Left, suffered a lot of casualties, losing over five thousand soldiers.

After the Battle

After their defeat, General Blake led the remaining Spanish soldiers on a difficult retreat. They traveled west through the mountains, trying to escape from another French general, Soult.

When Blake's army finally reached the city of León on November 23, they were in very bad shape. Only about 20,000 of his men were left, and they were exhausted and poorly equipped.

The French victory at Espinosa de los Monteros allowed Napoleon's invasion of Spain to continue. The next major battle was the Battle of Tudela.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Espinosa de los Monteros para niños

• Timeline of the Peninsular War