Battle of María facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of María
Part of the Peninsular War
Date 15 June 1809 Location María de Huerva, Spain 41°33′08″N 0°59′31″W / 41.5522°N 0.9919°W / 41.5522; -0.9919 Result French victory
Belligerents
First French Empire	Kingdom of Spain
Commanders and leaders
Louis Gabriel Suchet	Joaquín Blake
Units involved
III Corps	Army of Aragon
Strength
11,300 12 guns	20,000 23 guns
Casualties and losses
800	4,500 20 guns

The Battle of María (15 June 1809) saw a small Spanish army led by Joaquín Blake y Joyes face an Imperial French corps under Louis Gabriel Suchet.

Background

The Spanish campaign in early 1809 started with the Battle of Uclés.

Battle

After an inconclusive contest earlier in the day, Suchet's cavalry made a decisive charge that resulted in a French victory. Though the Spanish right wing was crushed, the rest of Blake's army got away in fairly good order after abandoning most of its artillery. María de Huerva is located 17 kilometres (10.6 mi) southwest of Zaragoza, Spain. The action occurred during the Peninsular War which was part of the larger struggle known as the Napoleonic Wars.

Aftermath

The Spanish campaign in early 1809 proceeded with the French advance in Catalonia in the Battle of Belchite.