Siege of Tarragona (1811) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Tarragona (1811)
Part of Peninsular War
A view of Tarragona
Date 5 May – 29 June 1811 Location Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain 41°06′56″N 1°14′58″E / 41.1156°N 1.2494°E / 41.1156; 1.2494 Result French victory
Belligerents
French Empire	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Louis Suchet	Juan de Contreras
Strength
18,000	18,000
Casualties and losses
4,300	18,000

The Siege of Tarragona was a major battle that took place in Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. It happened from May 5 to June 29, 1811. During this time, the French Army of Aragon, led by Louis Gabriel Suchet, surrounded and attacked the city. Inside Tarragona, a Spanish army led by Lieutenant General Juan Senen de Contreras defended the city.

A British navy group, commanded by Admiral Edward Codrington, helped the Spanish. They fired cannons at the French attackers from the sea. They also brought many extra soldiers into the city by ship. Even with this help, the French soldiers managed to break through the city's defenses. They captured almost all the Spanish defenders. This important battle was part of the Peninsular War, which was itself a part of the larger Napoleonic Wars.

Why the Siege Happened

The French army had been trying to take control of the Aragon region in Spain. A big step in this plan was the Siege of Tortosa, which happened just before Tarragona. Capturing Tarragona was important for the French to control the eastern coast of Spain.

The Battle for Tarragona

Emperor Napoleon promised General Suchet a very high military rank, called a marshal's baton, if he could capture Tarragona. This made Suchet very determined to win. He carefully attacked the city's outer defenses. These were like smaller forts and walls outside the main city. The French built special trenches, called "siege parallels," closer and closer to the city walls.

The Spanish tried to send help to Tarragona by land, but these attempts were not strong enough. Suchet's army easily stopped them. As the siege went on, the French launched a surprise attack on the lower part of the city. The Spanish soldiers who survived had to retreat to the upper city.

In the end, Suchet's soldiers stormed into the upper city. There was intense fighting, and many lives were lost, including civilians. The loss of Tarragona was a huge blow to the Spanish Army of Catalonia. It made them much weaker. Because of his success, Napoleon gave Suchet the important rank of marshal, just as he had promised.

Who Won and What it Cost

The French army had about 21,635 soldiers. Around 4,300 of them were killed or wounded. This included a French general named Jean-Baptiste Salme, who was killed.

The Spanish army suffered much greater losses. Between 14,000 and 15,000 Spanish soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured. About 8,000 of them were taken prisoner. Many civilians also lost their lives during the final attack.

What Happened Next

After the French captured Tarragona, they continued their plan to take over Aragon. The next major battle in this area was the Siege of Valencia.

See also

In Spanish: Sitio de Tarragona (1811) para niños