Battle of Peñacerrada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Peñacerrada
Part of First Carlist War
Date 20–22 June 1838 Location Peñacerrada, Basque Country, Spain Result Liberal victory
Belligerents
Carlists supporting Infante Carlos of Spain	Liberals (Isabelinos or Cristinos) supporting Isabella II of Spain and her regent mother Maria Christina
Commanders and leaders
	Pedro Saarsfield Manuel Lorenzo
Strength
1,500

The Battle of Peñacerrada was an important fight during the First Carlist War in Spain. It happened in a place called Peñacerrada (also known as Urizaharra) between June 20 and 22, 1838. In this battle, the Liberal army won a big victory over the Carlist troops.

What Was the First Carlist War?

The First Carlist War was a civil war in Spain that lasted from 1833 to 1840. A civil war is when people from the same country fight against each other. This war was about who should rule Spain.

Two Sides: Liberals and Carlists

There were two main groups fighting:

• The Liberals: These were also called Isabelinos or Cristinos. They supported Isabella II of Spain, who was a young queen. Her mother, Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, was ruling for her because Isabella was too young. The Liberals wanted a more modern government with a constitution.
• The Carlists: These were followers of Infante Carlos, Count of Molina. He was Isabella's uncle. The Carlists believed that Carlos should be king because of old traditions about who inherits the throne. They wanted to keep things more traditional in Spain.

The war was a big struggle for power and different ideas about how Spain should be governed.

The Battle of Peñacerrada

The Battle of Peñacerrada was a key moment in the First Carlist War. The Liberal forces were led by two generals, Pedro Saarsfield and Manuel Lorenzo. They had just crossed the Ebro River after another battle called the Battle of Los Arcos.

How the Battle Unfolded

The Carlist army had about 1,500 soldiers stationed at Peñacerrada. General Saarsfield and General Lorenzo's Liberal troops attacked them. The battle was quick and decisive. The Liberal forces were very strong and well-led. They completely defeated the Carlist troops. This means the Carlists were forced to retreat and lost many soldiers.

After the Victory

After their big win at Peñacerrada, the Liberal generals Saarsfield and Lorenzo continued their march. They entered two important cities, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Bilbao, within just one week. The Carlist forces were so weakened by the defeat at Peñacerrada that they didn't try to stop the Liberals. This showed how important the Liberal victory at Peñacerrada was for their control of the region.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Peñacerrada para niños