Battle of Girona (1808)

Battle of Girona (1808)
Part of Peninsular War

Independence Square in Girona commemorates the struggle against the French from 1808 to 1814.
Date20 and 21 June 1808
Location41°58′N 2°49′E / 41.967°N 2.817°E / 41.967; 2.817
Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
France First French Empire
Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic) Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Naples Kingdom of Naples
Spain Kingdom of Spain
Commanders and leaders
France Guillaume Duhesme
France Andrea Milossevich
France François Schwarz
Spain Lt. Col. O'Donovan
Spain Lt. Col. O'Daly
Strength
5,900, 8 guns 2,000
Casualties and losses
700 light
Peninsular war: Spanish uprising 1808
Map
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Maps: terms of use
200km
125miles
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12
Evacuation of La Romana August 1808
Bailén
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Battle of Bailén July 1808
Rioseco
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Battle of Girona June 1808 8.1 Second siege of Girona July 1808
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Battle of Alcolea Bridge June 1808
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Battle of Valdepeñas June 1808
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Battles of El Bruch June 1808
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Madrid Uprising May 1808
  current battle

The Battle of Girona on 20 and 21 June 1808 saw an Imperial French division led by Guillaume Philibert Duhesme try to overrun a Spanish garrison commanded by Lieutenant Colonels O'Donovan and O'Daly. The French assault failed and the attackers withdrew. Girona (spelled "Gerona" in Castilian) is located about halfway between the Franco-Spanish border and Barcelona on the Autovía A-7. The action occurred during the Peninsular War, part of the Napoleonic Wars.

As part of his plan to overthrow the Spanish ruling family, Emperor Napoleon ordered his soldiers to seize Barcelona in February 1808. The city's fortress was successfully occupied, but a few weeks later the Spanish people rebelled against Imperial French rule. Duhesme and his soldiers soon found themselves in difficulties. Hemmed in by Catalan militia and regular Spanish troops, the French general attempted to capture Girona in order to open up a secure supply line from France to Barcelona. The Franco-Italian force attempted to storm the city but they were repulsed by the city militia and two small battalions of Irish regular infantry in Spanish service. Duhesme fell back to Barcelona, but he returned to mount the Second siege of Girona five weeks later.