Battle of Talavera

Battle of Talavera
Part of the Peninsular War

The Battle of Talavera de la Reina, by William Heath
Date27–28 July 1809
Location39°58′N 4°50′W / 39.967°N 4.833°W / 39.967; -4.833
Result See aftermath
Belligerents
First French Empire French Empire
Kingdom of Holland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland United Kingdom
Spain Spain
Commanders and leaders
First French Empire Joseph Bonaparte
First French Empire Jean-Baptiste Jourdan
First French Empire Claude-Victor Perrin
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Arthur Wellesley
Spain Gregorio de la Cuesta
Strength
46,138[1]
80 guns
United Kingdom:
20,641[2]
30 guns
Spain:
34,993[2]
30 guns
Total:
55,634
60 guns
Casualties and losses
7,389 killed, wounded or captured[3] United Kingdom:
6,268 killed, wounded or captured[3]
Spain:
1,200 killed, captured or wounded[3]
Total casualties:
7,468 killed, wounded or captured
Map
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Maps: terms of use
200km
125miles
Toulouse
12
Battle of Toulouse (1814) on 10 April 1814
Vitoria
11
Battle of Vitoria on 21 June 1813
Tordesillas
10
Battle of Tordesillas (1812) from 25 to 29 October 1812
Burgos
9
Siege of Burgos from 19 September to 21 October 1812
Salamanca
8
Battle of Salamanca on 22 July 1812
Ciudad
7
Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo (1812) from 7 to 20 January 1812
Talavera
6
Corunna
5
Battle of Corunna on 16 January 1809
Tudela
4
Battle of Tudela on 23 November 1808
Bailén
3
Battle of Bailén from 16 to 19 July 1808
Valencia
2
Battle of Valencia from 26 to 28 June 1808
Madrid
1
Madrid Uprising on 2 May 1808
  current battle
  Wellington in command
  Wellington not in command

The Battle of Talavera (27–28 July 1809) was fought just outside the town of Talavera de la Reina, Spain some 120 kilometres (75 mi) southwest of Madrid, during the Peninsular War. At Talavera, a British army under Sir Arthur Wellesley combined with a Spanish army under General Cuesta fought in operations against French-occupied Madrid. At nightfall, the French army withdrew a short distance after several of its attacks had been repulsed; the allies, having suffered comparable casualties to the French, made no attempt to pursue.

After Marshal Soult's French army had retreated from Portugal, General Wellesley's 20,000 British troops advanced into Spain to join 33,000 Spanish troops under General Cuesta. They marched up the Tagus valley to Talavera, some 120 kilometres (75 mi) southwest of Madrid. There they encountered 46,000 French under Marshal Claude Victor and Major-General Horace Sébastiani, with the French king of Spain, Joseph Bonaparte in nominal command.

The French crossed the Alberche in the middle of the afternoon on 27 July. A few hours later, the French attacked the right of the Spaniards and the British left. A strategic hill was taken and lost, until, finally, the British held it firmly. At daybreak on 28 July, the French attacked the British left again to retake the hill and were repulsed when the 29th Foot and 48th Foot who had been lying behind the crest stood up and carried out a bayonet charge. A French cannonade lasted until noon, when a negotiated armistice of two hours began. That afternoon, a heavy exchange of cannon fire started ahead of various infantry and cavalry skirmishes. Early in the evening, a major engagement resulted in the French being held off. A cannon duel continued until dark. At daylight, the British and Spanish discovered that the bulk of the French force had retired, leaving their wounded and two brigades of artillery in the field. Wellesley was ennobled as Viscount Wellington of Talavera and of Wellington[4] for the action.

  1. ^ Gates, p. 492; Oman, p. 648.
  2. ^ a b Gates, pp. 490–491.
  3. ^ a b c Napier, p. 218.
  4. ^ Holmes, p. 142.