Battle of Majaceite | |||||||
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Part of First Carlist War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Carlists supporting |
Liberals (Isabelinos or Cristinos) supporting Isabella II of Spain and her regent mother Maria Christina | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Miguel Gómez Damas | Ramón María Narváez y Campos | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
6,000 | 25,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
High | Moderate |
The Battle of Majaceite was fought in the First Carlist War. Ramón María Narváez y Campos was ordered to intercept the expedition of the Carlist general Miguel Gómez Damas. Narváez left Madrid in October 1836 with three divisions, while Gómez Damas left Ronda on 18 November 1836, entering Algeciras on 22 November.
On 23 November, when he departed Algeciras, Gómez Damas found himself surrounded at the citadel known as Alcalá de los Gazules. Gómez Damas attempted to reach Arcos de la Frontera, but met Narváez's army at the Majaceite River. The battle resulted with Gómez Damas’ withdrawal to Villamartín. An English commentator wrote that “it was at Majaciete that [Narváez] rescued Andalucía from the Carlist invasion by a brilliant coup de main, in a rapid but destruction action, which will not readily be effaced from the memory of the southern provinces.”[1]