Battle of Manresa (1810) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Manresa (1810)
Part of Peninsular War
Manresa was burned by the French on 30 March 1812.
Date 21 March – 5 April 1810 Location Manresa, Catalonia, Spain Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
First French Empire	Kingdom of Spain
Commanders and leaders
Pierre Augereau Marie François Rouyer François de Schwarz	Henry O'Donnell Juan Caro (WIA) Luis of Campoverde Francesc Rovira
Units involved
VII Corps	Army of Catalonia
Strength
Vilafranca: 800 Manresa: 3,000	Vilafranca: 7,300 Manresa: 7,300
Casualties and losses
Vilafranca: 800 Manresa: 852	Vilafranca: light Manresa: light

The Battle of Manresa and the Battle of Vilafranca were two important fights that happened between March 21 and April 5, 1810. These battles were part of the Peninsular War, which was a big conflict during the Napoleonic Wars. Spanish forces, led by generals Juan Caro and Luis González Torres de Navarra, Marquess of Campoverde, fought against French soldiers commanded by François Xavier de Schwarz. The Spanish won both battles.

What Was the Peninsular War?

The Peninsular War was a major conflict that took place in Spain and Portugal. It lasted from 1807 to 1814. This war was part of the larger Napoleonic Wars, where Napoleon Bonaparte and his French Empire fought against many European countries. In Spain, the war was fought between France and its allies, and the Spanish, Portuguese, and British armies. Many regular soldiers and local fighters, called guerrillas, joined the fight.

The Surprise at Vilafranca

In March 1810, Spanish forces under General Juan Caro launched a surprise attack. They targeted the town of Vilafranca del Penedès, which is about 35 kilometers (22 miles) west of Barcelona. The town was guarded by about 800 French soldiers. These soldiers were actually from German states that were allied with France. The Spanish managed to capture the entire French group in Vilafranca. This was a great start for the Spanish forces.

The Battle for Manresa

After their victory in Vilafranca, the Spanish army continued their operations. They moved towards the town of Manresa, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Barcelona. At the beginning of April, they attacked the French forces stationed there. The French soldiers in Manresa were led by General François de Schwarz.

The fighting for Manresa lasted for several days. The Spanish troops, including regular soldiers and local fighters, pushed hard against the French. The local fighters were called miquelets, who were a type of Catalan militia or armed group. There were about 2,000 regular Spanish soldiers, 2,300 local miquelets, and another 3,000 miquelets led by Francesc Rovira i Sala.

On April 2, General Caro was injured during the battle. General Luis of Campoverde took over command of the Spanish forces. After intense fighting, the Spanish managed to drive General Schwarz and his German soldiers out of Manresa. The French suffered heavy losses in this battle.

Why These Battles Mattered

The Spanish victories at Vilafranca and Manresa were important. They showed that the Spanish forces could successfully fight against the French. The heavy losses suffered by the French in Manresa made their commander, Marshal Pierre Augereau, change his plans. He had been planning to attack Tarragona, another important city. But because of the defeat at Manresa, he had to call off that attack. This gave the Spanish more time and helped protect Tarragona.

These battles were a part of the larger struggle for Spain's independence during the Peninsular War. They highlighted the bravery of the Spanish soldiers and local fighters.