Battle of Medellín facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Medellín |
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| Part of the Peninsular War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 French Empire |
 Spain |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Claude Victor |
 Gregorio de la Cuesta |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 13,000 infantry 4,500 cavalry 42 guns |
20,000 infantry 3,000 cavalry 30 guns |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1,000 dead or wounded | 8,000 dead or wounded 2,000 captured 19 guns |
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The Battle of Medellín was a big fight during the Peninsular War. It happened on March 28, 1809. The French army, led by Marshal Claude Victor, won against the Spanish army. The Spanish were led by General Gregorio García de la Cuesta. This battle was the first major step for the French to take control of Southern Spain. They mostly finished this goal later that year at the Battle of Ocana.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
The Spanish campaign in early 1809 started with the Battle of Uclés. Marshal Victor wanted to move his French army south. His goal was to defeat the Spanish Army of Estremadura, led by General Cuesta. Cuesta's army was retreating from the French. But on March 27, Cuesta got 7,000 more soldiers. He then decided to fight the French instead of running away.
The Battlefield Setup
The battle took place southeast of the town of Medellín. This town is about 300 kilometers southwest of Madrid. The Guadiana River flowed along the northern side of the battlefield. The Hortiga River joined it, running north to south. This made it hard for the Spanish to attack the French from the side.
Victor had about 17,500 soldiers. Cuesta had more, about 23,000. But Victor had more cannons (50 vs. 30) and more cavalry (4,500 vs. 3,000).
Both commanders set up their armies in unusual ways. Victor's plan seemed smarter. The French army's middle part, led by General Eugene-Casimir Villatte, was on the main road. This road went from Medellín to Don Benito. The sides of the French army, led by Lasalle (left) and Latour-Maubourg (right), were further away. Each side had cavalry and German infantry. Victor wanted his sides to slowly move back. Then, they would launch a strong counter-attack to break the Spanish lines. Victor also had a group of soldiers ready, led by General François Ruffin. These soldiers did not fight in the battle.
General Cuesta made some mistakes. He did not keep any soldiers in reserve. He spread his 23,000 men in a four-mile line. This line stretched from the Guadiana River to the Hortiga River. His plan was to hit the French sides. He hoped to trap the French army with their backs to Medellín and the Guadiana River. But this was exactly what Victor expected.
How the Battle Unfolded
The cannon fire started around 1 p.m. About an hour later, Cuesta ordered his army to attack. At first, the Spanish did very well. They pushed back a French cavalry charge on their left side. Both French sides had to keep falling back. Spanish soldiers also fired at the French.
Lasalle's position was risky. The Guadiana River was behind him. His 2,000 cavalry and 2,500 infantry could not move back more than a mile. Three Spanish cavalry groups tried to go around the French left side. But Lasalle and his men held their ground.
By this time, both French sides had moved back enough. They were now close enough to get help from Villatte's central group. Latour-Maubourg's western side got more soldiers and cannons. The French cannons worked better than the Spanish ones. But Spanish infantry kept pushing forward. They caused many problems for Latour-Maubourg's men. These men were in squares to protect against cavalry. This made it hard for them to fire back.
The Spanish almost captured the French cannons. So, Latour-Maubourg ordered his cavalry to attack again. This time, the attack worked. The French cavalry defeated three Spanish cavalry groups. These Spanish groups ran away, leaving their infantry alone. The Spanish infantry then also ran away. Since Cuesta had no extra soldiers, this big break in his line was very bad.
Things happened fast after that. Lasalle had received seven groups of infantry from Villatte. When he saw the Spanish running away, he also ordered a strong counter-attack. French cavalry smashed the Spanish cavalry on the eastern side. They then charged the Spanish infantry, who were again left alone. Lasalle's fresh soldiers attacked from the front. French cavalry also moved through the middle of the Spanish army. The Spanish tried to escape any way they could. Many soldiers were killed during this confused retreat. Cuesta's army was almost completely destroyed.
A large part of the Spanish army, especially on the right side, was surrounded. They had nowhere to go. Many Spanish soldiers were killed, whether they were fighting or trying to surrender. Large areas of the field were covered with Spanish bodies.
Battle Results
It was a terrible day for General Cuesta. He almost died in the battle. Some people say about 8,000 Spanish soldiers were killed. This includes those killed during and after the battle. About 2,000 Spanish soldiers were captured. The French only lost about 1,000 soldiers. However, in the days after the battle, French workers buried 16,002 Spanish soldiers in mass graves. The Spanish also lost 20 of their 30 cannons. This was Cuesta's second big loss to the French. His first was at Medina del Rio Seco in 1808. This battle was a successful start for the French to take over Southern Spain.
What Happened Next
The Spanish campaign in early 1809 continued. Galicia was freed in the Battle of Puente Sanpayo.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Medellín para niños
