Siege of Badajoz (1705) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Badajoz
Part of War of the Spanish Succession
Date 4 October 1705 – 17 October 1705 Location Badajoz, Crown of Castile, Spain Result Bourbon victory.
Belligerents
France Pro-Bourbon Spain	England  Austria Portugal  Dutch Republic Pro-Habsburg Spain
Commanders and leaders
Lieutenant General Puebla René de Froulay de Tessé	Earl of Galway François Nicolas Fagel
Strength
15,000 Garrison: 1,000 Relief army: 14,000	23,000 17,000 infantry 6,000 cavalry

The Siege of Badajoz was an important military event that happened in 1705. It was a battle for control of the Spanish city of Badajoz. This siege took place during a much larger conflict called the War of the Spanish Succession.

During the siege, an army made up of soldiers from England and the Netherlands tried to capture Badajoz. Their leaders were Henri de Massue, Earl of Galway and François Nicolas Fagel. They tried to take the city twice, once in June and again in October of 1705.

What Was the War of the Spanish Succession?

The War of the Spanish Succession was a big European conflict. It lasted from 1701 to 1714. The war was fought to decide who would be the next king of Spain.

Many countries were involved, including France, Spain, England, the Netherlands, and Austria. Each side wanted their chosen person to rule Spain. This war affected many parts of Europe, including cities like Badajoz.

The First Attack on Badajoz

In June 1705, the Anglo-Dutch army marched into southwestern Spain. They wanted to capture Badajoz. This city was important because of its location.

However, their first attempt to take the city failed. French cavalry, which are soldiers on horseback, arrived to help defend Badajoz. These reinforcements were led by Marshal René de Froulay de Tessé. Because of this, the attacking army had to pull back.

The Second Attack and Why It Failed

The Anglo-Dutch forces tried again to capture Badajoz in October 1705. The fighting was tough. During this second attack, a key leader, Earl of Galway, was badly injured. He lost an arm.

Because of this injury and other difficulties, François Nicolas Fagel decided to withdraw his troops again. This meant the French defenders were able to leave Badajoz with all their cannons and supplies. The siege was a failure for the Anglo-Dutch forces. After this, Fagel asked to return to the Netherlands.

See also

In Spanish: Sitio de Badajoz (1705) para niños