Battle of Roliça facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Roliça |
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| Part of the Peninsular War | |||||||
 Batalha da Roliça (William Heath, 1815. Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal) |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Henri Delaborde |
 Arthur Wellesley |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 4,000–4,930 5 guns |
14,800–15,700 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 600–700 killed, wounded or captured 3 guns lost |
70 killed 335 wounded 81 missing |
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The Battle of Roliça took place on August 17, 1808. It was the first battle fought by the British army during the Peninsular War. An army of British and Portuguese soldiers, led by Sir Arthur Wellesley, fought against a French division. The French forces were led by General Henri François Delaborde. The battle happened near the village of Roliça in Portugal. Even though the French were outnumbered, they managed to retreat in an orderly way.
Contents
Why Did the Battle of Roliça Happen?
The Peninsular War was a big conflict in Europe. It involved France, led by Napoleon, fighting against Spain, Portugal, and Great Britain. The Battle of Roliça marked the start of Britain's involvement in this war on the Iberian Peninsula.
French Control in Portugal and Spain
After taking control of Portugal, Napoleon tried to conquer Spain. But the Spanish people fought back strongly. By July 1808, the Spanish had won several battles against the French. One major victory was at Baylen on July 23, 1808. There, 18,000 French soldiers had to surrender.
Around the same time, sad events happened in Évora, Portugal. French soldiers caused terrible harm to the people there. These events deeply affected how the British, Spanish, and Portuguese armies would work together.
British Plans and Arrival
On July 30, 1808, General Wellesley learned that the French forces in Portugal were very strong. Britain decided to send more soldiers to Portugal. General John Moore and other forces were expected to arrive. This meant that a more senior general would soon take command. Wellesley, who was ambitious, wanted to achieve something important before that happened.
Wellesley's troops landed at Mondego Bay in Portugal. This spot was chosen because local students had already taken control of a fort there. This made it a safer place to land than closer to Lisbon. It took from August 1 to 8 to get all 14,000 soldiers and their supplies onto land. Some boats even flipped over in the rough waves.
Marching Towards Lisbon
On August 10, the army began its march towards Leiria. It was a hot and sandy journey of about 12 miles. Wellesley arrived on August 11. He soon discussed plans with General Bernardim Freire de Andrade, who commanded 6,000 Portuguese troops. They disagreed on the best route to Lisbon and how to get supplies.
Wellesley chose his preferred route, which was closer to the sea and his supplies. About 1,700 Portuguese soldiers, led by Colonel Nicholas Trant, joined his army. The army then marched towards Lisbon, following a French force. This French force was led by General Delaborde. Their job was to slow down the British while the main French army got ready.
By August 14, the British reached Alcobaça and then Óbidos. Here, British riflemen met French soldiers. The French force of 4,000 was greatly outnumbered by the British and Portuguese.
Who Fought in the Battle?
The armies were made up of soldiers from different countries.
British and Portuguese Forces
The Anglo-Portuguese army had about 14,800 to 15,700 soldiers. They were organized into six brigades. These brigades were led by generals like Hill, Ferguson, and Fane. Colonel Trant led the Portuguese soldiers.
- Artillery: They had 18 artillery guns.
- Left Division: Led by General Ferguson, this group included regiments like the 36th, 40th, and 71st.
- Centre Division: This was the main force. It included cavalry, riflemen, and infantry regiments like the 29th, 82nd, 5th, 9th, 38th, 45th, 50th, and 91st.
- Right Division: Led by Colonel Trant, this group had Portuguese cavalry and infantry regiments.
French Forces
The French forces under General Delaborde were much smaller, with about 4,000 to 4,930 soldiers. They had five battalions, including one Swiss battalion, and five guns.
- Infantry: This included the 70th Line Infantry Regiment, 4th Swiss Infantry Regiment, 2nd Light Regiment, and 4th Light Regiment.
- Chasseurs: The 26th Chasseurs Battalion was also part of their force.
Where Did the Battle Take Place?
The village of Roliça is in a valley shaped like a horseshoe. This valley is about one mile wide and two miles deep. The open end faces north-northeast towards Óbidos. The hills around Roliça were covered in trees.
The French army started the day north of Roliça. They were positioned on higher ground. This allowed them to block the roads leading south towards Lisbon. As the battle began, Delaborde moved his troops back to the top of a hill about a mile south of the village. This hill had four narrow paths, or gullies, leading up to the French position. The ground below was grassy, but rocks and steep sides made it hard for soldiers to attack in formation.
How the Battle Unfolded
Wellesley arrived at Óbidos on August 16 and moved towards Roliça the next day. Delaborde's forces were positioned north of Roliça. Wellesley planned to attack both sides of the French position. He had three main groups of brigades for this. This plan was possible because the Anglo-Portuguese army had more than three times as many soldiers as the French.
Wellesley sent Colonel Trant's group to the west. A stronger force under Ferguson and Bowes, with six guns, went to the east. Wellesley kept the French busy in the center with a show of force. He tried this plan twice, starting at 9:00 a.m. But the French commander, Delaborde, saw what was happening each time and pulled his troops back. The French ended up on top of a steep hill south and east of the village. This hill was full of sharp rocks, and the only way up was through narrow gullies.
A Risky Attack
Colonel Lake of the 29th Regiment of Foot made a mistake. He rushed his men up a gully towards the French position. He ended up behind Delaborde's lines. This brave but risky move cost Lake his life and many men from the 29th Regiment. This forced the rest of the British army to attack to help their comrades.
The fighting was tough and uphill. Delaborde hoped that more French troops would arrive to help him. He managed to push back three British attacks. But by almost 4:00 p.m., Wellesley ordered a full advance to support the struggling 29th and 9th Regiments. The British soldiers swarmed up the rocky hill. Their large numbers helped them reach the French positions at the top. At the same time, Ferguson's troops arrived over the hills to the east.
Delaborde then began to retreat in an organized way, helped by his cavalry. But eventually, his army's discipline broke, and they started to run. The British cavalry couldn't chase them down. So, the French successfully retreated to Montachique, near Torres Vedras.
What Were the Results of the Battle?
The Anglo-Portuguese army won the battle. They had 487 casualties (soldiers killed, wounded, or missing). More than half of these were from the 29th Regiment, which had rushed forward. The French lost about 700 men and three of their five guns. General Delaborde himself was wounded.
The day after the battle, Wellesley found that 4,000 more British troops had arrived from England. They were waiting off the coast. Instead of chasing Delaborde, Wellesley marched his men to help these new troops land safely.
What Happened Next?
The British involvement in Portugal continued. The next major battle was the Battle of Vimeiro on August 21, 1808.
See also
