Battle of Villarrobledo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Villarrobledo
Part of First Carlist War
Tropas Reina 1-album
Date 20 September 1836 Location Villarrobledo, Castilla-La Mancha, 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
Miguel Gómez Damas Ramón Cabrera y Griñó	Isidro de Alaix Fábregas Diego de León y Navarrete
Strength
4,000 (Gómez’s forces)	~10,000
Casualties and losses
200 dead and wounded, 500 prisoners	Unknown

The Battle of Villarrobledo was an important fight during the First Carlist War in Spain. It happened on September 20, 1836. The battle took place just south of Villarrobledo, near a place called Vega de San Cristóbal.

This battle was a big defeat for the Carlist army, led by General Miguel Gómez Damas. His soldiers suffered many losses. They also lost a lot of their weapons and supplies. The Liberal army, led by General Isidro de Alaix Fábregas, won a clear victory. Because of his success, General Alaix was given special honors. He received the title of Viscount of Villarrobledo. He also earned the Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand, a very important military award.

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 between two main groups. One group supported Isabella II of Spain as the queen. They were called Liberals, or Isabelinos. The other group supported Isabella's uncle, Infante Carlos, Count of Molina. They were called Carlists.

The main reason for the war was who should rule Spain. Queen Isabella II was very young when her father died. Her mother, Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, ruled for her. But Infante Carlos believed he should be king instead. He thought the old rules meant a woman could not be queen.

Who Fought in the Battle?

The battle involved two main armies. The Carlists were led by General Miguel Gómez Damas. He had about 4,000 soldiers. Another Carlist leader, Ramón Cabrera y Griñó, also had forces nearby.

The Liberal army was much larger. It had about 10,000 soldiers. Their main commanders were General Isidro de Alaix Fábregas and General Diego de León y Navarrete.

The Liberal Army

The Liberal forces were well-organized. General Alaix commanded their 3rd Division. This division included several infantry battalions. These were groups of foot soldiers.

The Liberal army also had cavalry. Cavalry are soldiers who fight on horseback. General Diego de León led the cavalry. They had units like the Princess Hussars. In total, the Liberals had about 4,000 infantry and 350 cavalry.

The Carlist Army

General Gómez led the main Carlist forces. He had five battalions of infantry. He also had five squadrons of cavalry. A squadron is a group of cavalry soldiers.

Another Carlist group was the Aragón Division. This was led by General Cabrera. It included brigades from Aragón and Valencia. These brigades had several battalions of infantry. The Carlists also had about 580 cavalry troopers.

Why Was This Battle Important?

The Battle of Villarrobledo was a big win for the Liberals. It showed that the Carlist army could be defeated. The loss of soldiers and supplies was a major setback for General Gómez.

This victory helped the Liberals gain control in the region. It also boosted the morale of their troops. The honors given to General Alaix showed how important this win was for the Liberal cause.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Villarrobledo para niños