Pedro Sarsfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pedro Sarsfield
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|
|---|---|
| Born | unknown unknown |
| Died | 1837 Pamplona, Spain |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Spain |
| Service/ |
Infantry |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars | Siege of Tortosa (1810) Battle of Pla (1811) Siege of Figueras (1811) Siege of Tarragona (1811) Battle of Oriamendi (1837) |
Pedro Sarsfield (died 1837) was an important Spanish general. He was known for being a very good military leader, especially during the Peninsular War. This war was part of the bigger Napoleonic Wars, where Spain fought against Napoleon's French forces.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Pedro Sarsfield came from an Irish family. His ancestors moved to Spain after a famous battle in Ireland called the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Many Irish families settled in Spain around that time. Pedro Sarsfield was a descendant of Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan, who was a well-known Irish general.
Fighting in the Peninsular War
Pedro Sarsfield was a key figure in many battles during the Peninsular War. He led a group of soldiers called an infantry division.
The Siege of Tortosa
One of his important roles was during the Siege of Tortosa in 1810 and 1811. A siege is when an army surrounds a city or fortress to try and capture it.
Battle of Pla
During the Tortosa operations, Sarsfield showed his skill as a tactician. On January 15, 1811, he led his troops to victory at the Battle of Pla. He managed to defeat two brigades (smaller groups of soldiers) from the Italian army. This was a very well-planned and successful action.
Sieges of Figueras and Tarragona
After his success at Pla, Sarsfield tried to help break the Siege of Figueras, but he was not successful. Later, his soldiers took part in the Siege of Tarragona in May and June 1811. This siege was a very difficult time for the Spanish army. Although many of his soldiers were lost, Sarsfield himself managed to escape. The remaining parts of his division later joined another Spanish general, Luis González Torres de Navarra, Marquess of Campoverde, to fight against the French forces led by Louis-Gabriel Suchet.
After the Napoleonic Wars
After the Napoleonic Wars ended, Pedro Sarsfield continued to serve Spain. He was very loyal to King Ferdinand VII of Spain.
Political Events
In 1819, Sarsfield helped stop a plan by a group called "liberals" who wanted to change the government. Because of his loyalty, he was promoted to Lieutenant General that same year. However, when the liberals gained power in 1820 during a period known as the Trienio Liberal, Sarsfield was sent away to the Balearic Islands. He also opposed the French army's intervention in Spain, which was called the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis. This intervention aimed to bring King Ferdinand VII back to full power.
The First Carlist War and Death
In the 1830s, Spain faced another conflict called the First Carlist War. During this war, Pedro Sarsfield led the liberal army in the region of Navarre. He fought in the Battle of Oriamendi in 1837. Sadly, later that year, he was killed by some of his own soldiers who rebelled against him in Pamplona.
See also
In Spanish: Pedro Sarsfield para niños
