Battle of Villar de los Navarros facts for kids

The Battle of Villar de los Navarros happened on August 24, 1837. It was an important fight during the First Carlist War in Spain. This battle took place near the town of Villar de los Navarros in the Zaragoza Province. The battle ended with a big win for the Carlists.

What Was the First Carlist War?

The First Carlist War was a civil war in Spain. It lasted from 1833 to 1840. The war was fought over who should be the next ruler of Spain.

Who Were the Carlists?

The Carlists supported Don Carlos. He was the brother of the previous king, Ferdinand VII. Don Carlos believed he should be king. He thought the old rules of succession should be followed.

Who Were the Liberals?

The Liberals were also called Isabelinos or Cristinos. They supported Isabella II of Spain. Isabella was the daughter of King Ferdinand VII. Her mother, Maria Christina, ruled for her because Isabella was too young. The Liberals wanted a more modern government.

The Battle of Villar de los Navarros

The battle was fought between these two groups. The Carlists were led by Don Carlos himself. The Liberal forces were led by Brigadier Don Ramón Solano.

Who Fought in the Battle?

The Carlist army was quite strong. They had about 11,000 foot soldiers (infantry). They also had 100 horse soldiers (cavalry). The Liberal army was smaller. They had a little more than half the number of soldiers compared to the Carlists.

What Happened During the Battle?

The Carlists won the battle. They managed to capture many Liberal soldiers. This included Brigadier Ramón Solano, the Liberal commander. They also captured 84 officers and 60 sergeants. About 1,500 foot soldiers were taken prisoner.

The Prisoners of Herrera

Many of the captured soldiers were taken to nearby towns. These towns were Herrera de los Navarros and Villar de los Navarros. This happened on the night of August 24. These prisoners were called los prisioneros de Herrera. Many of them were badly hurt. They also had all their belongings taken from them.

Some of the captured soldiers were forced to join the Carlist army. Around 400 of them had to switch sides.

After the Battle

On August 25, the Carlist army left Villar de los Navarros. They took all the prisoners with them. A British adventurer named C.F. Henningsen was with the Carlist army at this time.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Villar de los Navarros para niños