Juan Miguel de Vives facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan Miguel de Vives
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|---|---|
| Birth name | Juan Miguel de Vives y Feliu |
| Born | c. 1745 Girona, Spain |
| Died | 27 April 1809 Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Spain |
| Service/ |
Infantry |
| Rank | Captain General |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Boulou (1794) Battle of the Black Mountain (1794) Battle of Cardadeu (1808) Battle of Molins de Rey (1808) |
| Other work | Governor of Mallorca |
Juan Miguel de Vives y Feliu (born around 1745 – died April 27, 1809) was an important Spanish general. In Catalan, his name is Joan Miquel Vives i Feliu. He played a key role in several wars during his time.
Contents
Early Military Career
Fighting in the Pyrenees
In 1794, Juan Miguel de Vives showed great skill as a leader. He commanded a division of soldiers against the French army. This was during a conflict known as the War of the Pyrenees.
He led his troops in two major battles in the eastern Pyrenees mountains. These were the Battle of Boulou and the Battle of the Black Mountain.
Pushing Back the French
In 1795, a high-ranking Spanish officer named José de Urrutia gave Vives an important job. He put Vives in charge of 20,000 local soldiers called migueletes.
These soldiers, along with volunteers from Valencia, helped push the French forces out of Cerdanya. This area is in the Catalan Pyrenees.
New Leadership Roles
After his successes, Vives received new appointments. In 1796, he became the military governor of Cartagena. This was an important port city in Spain.
Then, in 1799, he was made Captain General of Mallorca. This was a very high military position.
The Peninsular War Begins
Troops Demand Action
The Peninsular War started in 1808. On June 30, 1808, Vives's second-in-command, the Marquis del Palacio, took action. The Marquis had become governor of Minorca earlier that month.
He joined a rebellion of Spanish soldiers stationed in the Balearic Islands. These soldiers, about 10,000 strong, wanted to fight the French. They demanded to be sent to Barcelona to join the fight.
Vives's Concerns
Vives was hesitant to leave Port Mahon without troops. He worried that the English might try to take over Minorca again. The English had controlled Minorca for much of the 18th century.
Eventually, the troops sailed to mainland Spain. An Aragonese regiment landed near Tortosa and marched to Saragossa. The main group, nearly 5,000 soldiers, landed in Catalonia in July.
Taking Command in Catalonia
The Marquis del Palacio was then appointed Captain General of Catalonia. Vives had been offered this job in June but had turned it down.
However, in October, the Marquis del Palacio was removed from his post. He had been inactive for a month. The Central Junta, a governing body, offered the position to Vives again. This time, he accepted.
Leading the Army of Catalonia
By early November 1808, Vives's Army of Catalonia had over 20,000 men. This included about 780 cavalry (soldiers on horseback). His army was divided into several groups, each led by a general.
These leaders included Brigadier-General Álvarez, General Conde de Caldagues, General Laguna, General La Serna, and General Milans. Another 15,000 troops were on their way to join them.
Challenges in Barcelona
Vives was in charge of trying to cut off and surround the French forces in Barcelona. The French garrison there was led by Guillaume Philibert Duhesme.
However, Vives was not able to take strong action in Barcelona. His forces were defeated by French troops led by Laurent Gouvion Saint-Cyr. These defeats happened at the Battle of Cardadeu and the Battle of Molins de Rey in December.
Later Life and Death
After these defeats, Vives resigned from his command. Reding replaced him as Captain General of Catalonia in January.
Vives was then appointed Captain General of Old Castile. He held this position until his death the following year, on April 27, 1809, in Ciudad Rodrigo.
See also
In Spanish: Juan Miguel de Vives para niños
