Battle of Zitlala facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Zitlala
Part of the Mexican War of Independence
The town of Chilpancingo, where Mexican rebel soldiers marched from.
Date 4 July 1812 Location Zitlala, Guerrero, Mexico Result Mexican rebel victory
Belligerents
Mexican Rebels	Spanish Empire
Commanders and leaders
José María Morelos Hermenegildo Galeana	José María Añorve de Salas
Strength
Unknown	50

The Battle of Zitlala was an important fight during the Mexican War of Independence. It happened on July 4, 1812, near the town of Zitlala, in Guerrero, Mexico. This battle was between the royalist forces, who were loyal to the Spanish King, and the Mexican rebels. The rebels were fighting to make Mexico an independent country, free from the Spanish Empire. The Mexican rebels won this battle.

What Led to the Battle of Zitlala?

Morelos's Fight for Independence

The Mexican War of Independence was a long struggle. One of the main leaders for the Mexican rebels was José María Morelos. He was a very important general. After a tough 72-day siege at a place called Cuautla, Morelos managed to escape.

Joining Forces and Moving On

After escaping, Morelos joined his army with about 800 other soldiers. These soldiers were led by brave generals like Hermenegildo Galeana and Miguel Bravo. They met up in a town called Chiautla.

From there, Morelos decided to move his army. His goal was to fight against the Spanish royalist commanders in the area. One of these commanders was General José María Añorve de Salas.

Royalist Plans and Rebel Movements

General Añorve de Salas and another royalist general, General Cerro, were trying to stop the rebels. General Cerro heard that a rebel leader named Máximo Bravo was bringing soldiers from Chilpancingo de los Bravo. So, General Cerro planned to attack him.

As Máximo Bravo marched towards Chilpancingo, he got news. He learned that General Morelos was nearby. He also heard that other royalist forces were moving towards a town called Petaquillas.

The Battle of Zitlala

Royalist Forces Divided

When General Añorve de Salas heard about these movements, he told General Cerro to join his forces. However, a group of about 50 Spanish soldiers did not get these orders, or they had not yet started to move. This small group was in the town of Zitlala.

Rebels Attack Zitlala

Suddenly, a strong group of Mexican rebels arrived in Zitlala. These rebels were led by General Hermenegildo Galeana. They quickly began the battle.

The rebel soldiers attacked the town from two different directions. They fought hard against the royalist forces. The royalist soldiers were on horseback, but they could not hold their ground.

Rebel Victory

The Mexican rebels were successful! They forced the royalist soldiers to retreat from Zitlala. As the Spanish forces ran away, they left behind their weapons. They also left behind some prisoners. The rebels took these weapons and prisoners. They then moved them to a place called Zacatula. This battle was a clear victory for the Mexican rebels.

See also

• Mexican War of Independence