Battle of Villafranca (1809) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Villafranca del Bierzo
Part of the Peninsular War
Date 17 March 1809 Location Near Villafranca del Bierzo, Spain 42°36′N 6°49′W / 42.600°N 6.817°W / 42.600; -6.817 Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
French Empire	Spain
Commanders and leaders
unknown	General La Romana
Strength
1,200	3,800-6,000 6 guns
Casualties and losses
700 killed 575 captured	Unknown

The Battle of Villafranca del Bierzo happened on March 17, 1809. It was a key event during the Peninsular War. This war involved France fighting against Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. In this battle, a small French group in Villafranca had to surrender. They gave up to Spanish soldiers led by José de Mendizábal and General La Romana. The fight lasted for about four hours and was very tough.

Why the Battle Happened

In 1809, France had taken over parts of northern Spain. The French army, led by Marshal Ney, had about 17,000 soldiers. But Spanish fighters, called guerrillas, kept attacking them. These guerrillas were like small, independent groups. They worked with parts of the Spanish army that were still fighting.

The French found it hard to control the areas they had taken. Many of their soldiers were needed to guard towns. Because of these constant attacks, the French started to leave some areas. They pulled out of places like Vigo and Tuy in March 1809.

One Spanish army group, led by General La Romana, was very active. They were based in Asturias. This group kept bothering the French in León and Galicia. They captured French soldiers and supplies. In March, some of La Romana's men found a French cannon. They used it to attack the French base at Villafranca. This attack aimed to cut off French communication lines to Madrid.

The Battle of Villafranca

The Spanish attack on Villafranca began on March 17. About 1,500 Spanish soldiers led by Mendizábal were at the front. These soldiers were from the Zaragoza and Zamora regiments. They entered the main square of Villafranca. Then, they moved in on the French soldiers who were hiding in the castle.

A fierce battle started. Several Spanish officers lost their lives during the fighting. After four hours of intense combat, the French soldiers agreed to surrender.

The Spanish forces were much larger. General La Romana had about 3,800 Spanish soldiers. They also had six cannons. This force included two battalions each from the Princesa and Asturias Infantry Regiments. The French had about 1,200 soldiers. This included one battalion of the 6th Light Infantry Regiment. They also had several hundred sick and wounded soldiers.

The French suffered heavy losses. About 700 French soldiers were killed or wounded. Another 574 French soldiers were captured without injury. The number of Spanish losses is not known. Some reports say the Spanish had as many as 6,000 men in total.

See also

• Timeline of the Peninsular War