Battle of Maella facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Maella |
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| Part of First Carlist War | |||||||
 The death of General Pardiñas in the Battle of Maella |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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Carlists supporting |
Liberals (Isabelinos or Cristinos) supporting Isabella II of Spain and her regent mother Maria Christina |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Ramón Cabrera | Ramón Pardiñas † Cayetano de Urbina Pascual Älvarez Anselmo Blaser |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 3,500 infantrymen and 500 cavalry | 5,000 infantry and 300 cavalry | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 264 dead and wounded | 3,115 dead | ||||||
The Battle of Maella was an important fight during the First Carlist War in Spain. It happened on Monday, October 1, 1838, near the town of Maella in Aragon. This battle was a big victory for the Carlists, who managed to defeat most of the Liberal forces.
Contents
What Was the First Carlist War?
The First Carlist War was a civil war fought in Spain from 1833 to 1840. It was a fight over who should rule Spain.
Who Were the Carlists?
The Carlists supported Infante Carlos, Count of Molina. He was the brother of the previous king, Ferdinand VII. The Carlists believed that Carlos should be the next king.
Who Were the Liberals?
The Liberals, also called Isabelinos or Cristinos, supported Isabella II of Spain. She was the daughter of King Ferdinand VII. Her mother, Maria Christina, ruled for her because Isabella was too young. The Liberals believed Isabella should be queen.
Who Fought in the Battle of Maella?
The battle involved two main groups: the Carlists and the Liberals.
Carlist Forces
The Carlist army had about 3,500 foot soldiers, called infantrymen. They also had about 500 cavalry, who were soldiers on horseback. Their leader was Ramón Cabrera.
Liberal Forces
The Liberal army was larger. They had about 5,000 infantry and 300 cavalry. Their main commander was Ramón Pardiñas. Other leaders included Cayetano de Urbina, Pascual Älvarez, and Anselmo Blaser.
Key Moments of the Battle
The battle took place on October 1, 1838. It was a fierce fight between the two sides.
Cabrera's Charge
During the fighting, the Carlist leader, Ramón Cabrera, was hurt in the arm. Even though he was wounded, he led a brave charge with his cavalry. This action greatly boosted the spirits of his soldiers. It also caused a lot of confusion among the Liberal forces.
Liberal Counterattack
The Liberal forces tried to fight back. They attacked the Carlist left side, causing some disorder there. However, Cabrera quickly responded. He led four companies of his infantry to push back the Liberal attack.
The Death of Pardiñas
Ramón Pardiñas, the Liberal commander, also tried to gather his troops. But he was not successful. He died during the battle.
What Happened After the Battle?
The Battle of Maella ended with a clear victory for the Carlists.
Liberal Retreat
After their defeat and the death of their commander, the Liberal forces had to retreat. They pulled back to the nearby town of Caspe.
Casualties
The battle resulted in many casualties, especially for the Liberals.
- The Carlists had about 264 soldiers who were either killed or wounded.
- The Liberals suffered much heavier losses, with about 3,115 soldiers killed.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Maella para niños
