Battle of Zacatecas (1811) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Zacatecas |
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| Part of the Mexican War of Independence | |||||||
 A portrait of General Ignacio López Rayón who commanded the Mexican insurgents in the battle. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Mexican Rebels |
.svg){kind=small} Spanish Empire |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Ignacio López Rayón |
José Manuel de Ochoa | ||||||
The Battle of Zacatecas was an important fight during the Mexican War of Independence. It happened on April 15, 1811, in a place called Zacatecas, in Mexico. This battle was between two main groups: the Royalists, who were loyal to the King of Spain, and the Mexican rebels, who wanted Mexico to be a free country.
General Ignacio López Rayón led the Mexican rebels. The Spanish forces were commanded by José Manuel de Ochoa. In the end, the Mexican rebels won this battle. It was a big step for them in their fight for independence.
Why the Battle Happened
After a big defeat at the Battle of Calderón Bridge in March 1811, the rebel leader Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and his army had to go north. In a city called Saltillo, the rebel leaders met. They needed to choose a new leader to guide their forces from the north. Their main goal was to win Mexico's independence from Spain.
Even though Mariano Abasolo and Joaquín Arias were experienced soldiers, they did not want to be the main leader. Finally, Ignacio López Rayón was chosen as the supreme chief of the rebel forces. José María Liceaga became his second-in-command. This meeting was very important for the rebels to continue their fight.
The Battle of Zacatecas
López Rayón heard that some important rebel commanders had been captured. So, he left Coahuila on March 26 and marched his army towards Zacatecas. The Royalist army, led by José Manuel Ochoa, followed him closely.
López Rayón's forces first defeated Ochoa's army at the Battle of Puerto de Piñones. However, this victory was not enough to stop the Royalists. They kept bothering the rebels. Finally, on April 15, 1811, López Rayón's army defeated the Royalists again at Zacatecas.
After this victory, López Rayón took control of the town of Zacatecas. He used it as a special place to make things for his soldiers. They produced artillery (big guns), gunpowder, and uniforms. This helped the rebel army get stronger and continue their fight for independence.
What Happened Next
After taking Zacatecas, López Rayón and his army marched to La Piedad, a town in Michoacán. There, he joined his forces with another important rebel leader named José Antonio Torres [es]. This made the rebel army even larger and more powerful.
See also
In Spanish: Toma de Zacatecas (1811) para niños
