Battles of El Bruch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battles of El Bruch |
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| Part of Peninsular War | |||||||
 The ''sometent'' at Bruc (1880), by Ramon Martí Alsina |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 French Empire |
 Kingdom of Spain |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| François de Schwarz Joseph Chabran |
Antoni Franch i Estalella Joan Baiget |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 3,800–5,000 regulars | 2,000 regulars and militia | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 6 June: 360 dead 800 wounded 60 captured 1 gun captured Total: 1,220 14 June: 83 dead 274 wounded Total: 357 Grand total: 1,577 |
6 June: 20 dead 80 wounded Total: 100 14 June: 15 dead 50 wounded Total: 65 Grand total: 165 |
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The two Battles of El Bruch were important fights that happened in June 1808. They took place near Barcelona, Catalonia, in Spain. These battles were part of the Peninsular War, a big conflict in Europe. In these battles, Spanish volunteers and soldiers fought against French troops. Spain won both times.
Contents
Background to the Battles
Before these battles, the people in Madrid had risen up against French rule. This event, called the Dos de Mayo Uprising, made many parts of Spain start fighting back. People across Spain were upset and wanted to be free from French control.
First Battle: June 6
On June 4, 1808, about 3,800 French soldiers left Barcelona. They were led by General François Xavier de Schwarz. Their goal was to march towards Lleida and Saragossa. A heavy rainstorm slowed them down a lot. This gave the Spanish forces time to get ready.
The Spanish forces included local volunteers, called sometent, and soldiers from Switzerland and Wallonia. These troops were already in Barcelona. About 2,000 Spanish fighters gathered at the Bruc Pass. They were led by General Antoni Franch i Estalella.
The Spanish stood strong and fought well. They managed to push the French back to Barcelona. The French lost many soldiers: 360 were killed, 800 were wounded, and 60 were captured. The Spanish also took one of their cannons and a French Imperial Eagle flag. The Spanish had far fewer losses, with only 20 dead and 80 wounded.
Who Fought on June 6?
The French army was led by Brigadier-General Francis Xavier Schwartz. It included:
- Neapolitan soldiers (from Naples, Italy)
- Swiss soldiers
- Other French line regiments
- Cavalry (soldiers on horseback)
- Artillery (soldiers with cannons)
The Spanish forces were led by General Antoni Franch i Estalella. They included:
- Regular soldiers and local militia
- Volunteers from nearby villages
- Swiss and Walloon soldiers
Second Battle: June 14
The French tried again on June 14. This time, General Joseph Chabran led a larger force. They managed to burn down some buildings in El Bruc. However, the Spanish forces, now led by Joan Baget, defeated them again. The French were forced to retreat.
The next day, as the French were going back to Barcelona, the Spanish attacked them again. This caused even more losses for General Chabran's troops. More than 500 French soldiers were killed or wounded during their retreat. The Spanish had 15 dead and 50 wounded in this second battle.
Who Fought on June 14?
The French army was led by General of Division Joseph Chabran. It was made up of several regiments, including:
- 7th Regiment of the line
- 16th Regiment of the line
- 2nd Regiment of the line
- 37th Regiment of the line
- 56th Regiment of the line
- 93rd Regiment of the line
The Spanish forces were led by Commander Joan Baget. They included:
- Volunteer companies
- Walloon Guards
- Swiss regiment Wimpffen
- Local militia, including some led by Antoni Franch and Captain José Viñas
- Residents from Sallen
- Other patriots
- Five cannons
Aftermath of the Battles
The victories at El Bruch were important for the Spanish. They showed that the French army could be defeated. After these battles, the fighting continued in other parts of Spain. One of the next big events was the Battle of Girona.
See also
