Combat of Navas de Membrillo

Combat of Navas de Membrillo
Part of the Peninsular War
Date29 December 1811
Location
Near Mérida, Spain
38°54′N 6°20′W / 38.900°N 6.333°W / 38.900; -6.333
Result French victory
Belligerents
First French Empire French Empire United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
First French Empire Captain Neveux United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Rowland Hill
Strength
c. 400 Unknown
Casualties and losses
11 killed, wounded or captured 39–40 killed, wounded or captured
Peninsular War
Castile 1811–13
Map
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200km
125miles
20
Battle of Tordesillas (1812) at Tordesillas, from 25 to 29 October 1812
19
Battle of Venta del Pozo at Villodrigo, on 23 October 1812
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18
Siege of Burgos at Burgos, from 19 September to 21 October 1812
17
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16
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15
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14
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13
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12
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11
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10
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Membrillo
9
8
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7
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6
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5
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4
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3
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2
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Badajoz
1
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  current battle

The combat of Navas de Membrillo took place on 29 December 1811 near Mérida, Spain, and saw the British light cavalry of General Rowland Hill assault a small Imperial French force led by Captain Neveux. During the action, the French soldiers formed in square inflicted a sharp defeat to the British cavalrymen. This engagement is considered by historian Ian Fletcher as "one of the more disappointing cavalry episodes in the Peninsula".