Battle of Villafranca (1809)

Battle of Villafranca del Bierzo
Part of the Peninsular War
Villafranca del Bierzo Battle of Villafranca (1809) (Spain)
Date 17 March 1809 Location Near Villafranca del Bierzo, Spain 42°36′N 6°49′W / 42.600°N 6.817°W / 42.600; -6.817 Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
French Empire	Spain
Commanders and leaders
unknown	General La Romana
Strength
1,200	3,800–6,000 6 guns
Casualties and losses
700 killed 575 captured	Unknown

Peninsular war: Second French invasion

100km
62miles

Sanpayo

6

Grijó

5

Porto

4

Braga

3

Villafranca

2

Chaves

1

  

  current battle

The Battle of Villafranca del Bierzo took place on 17 March 1809, during the French occupation of León in the Peninsular War. After a bloody four-hour siege the small and isolated French garrison at Villafranca surrendered to Spanish regulars under Brigadier José de Mendizábal and General Pedro Caro, 3rd Marquis of la Romana.^[1]