Battle of Lleida (1642) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Lleida
Part of the Reapers' War and the Franco-Spanish War (1635–59)
The battle of Lleida by Hippolyte Lecomte
Date 7 October 1642 Location Lleida, Principality of Catalonia Result Franco-Catalan victory
Belligerents
France  Catalonia	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Philippe de La Mothe-Houdancourt Comte de Roches-Baritault   †	Marquis de Leganés
Strength
12,000-13,000	22,000-25,000
Casualties and losses
1,000 killed	2,000 killed

The Battle of Lleida was an important fight that happened on 7 October 1642. It was part of a bigger conflict called the Reapers' War, also known as the Catalan Revolt. This revolt was itself part of an even larger war, the Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659).

In this battle, a combined army from France and Catalonia, led by Philippe de La Mothe-Houdancourt, faced off against a larger Spanish army. The Spanish forces were commanded by Marquis de Leganés. The battle took place near the city of Lleida in Catalonia, and the Franco-Catalan side won.

Why the Battle Happened

In the summer of 1642, a French army commander named Philippe de La Mothe-Houdancourt led his troops into a region called Aragon. He was the main French military leader in Catalonia at the time.

To stop La Mothe-Houdancourt and draw his army away, the Spanish commander, Marquis de Leganés, gathered his own soldiers. These troops came from cities like Tarragona and Zaragoza. Their goal was to take back the important city of Lleida, which was then controlled by a French military group.

The Battle Itself

Even though La Mothe-Houdancourt had a smaller army, he chose a good spot to fight. He positioned his soldiers on a flat area known as the Llano de las Forques.

The battle was fierce, but La Mothe-Houdancourt's strategy worked. His Franco-Catalan army managed to defeat the larger Spanish force. This was a significant victory for the French and Catalans.

After the Victory

After winning the Battle of Lleida, the French army tried to lay siege to another city called Tortosa. A siege is when an army surrounds a city to try and capture it by cutting off supplies.

However, the French army was not successful in taking Tortosa. They were eventually forced to pull back and end their siege.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Lérida (1642) para niños