Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo (1812)

Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo (1812)
Part of the Peninsular War
British infantry storm the fortress at Ciudad Rodrigo during Wellington’s campaign in Spain
Date 7–20 January 1812[1] Location Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain 40°35′49″N 6°32′21″W / 40.59694°N 6.53917°W / 40.59694; -6.53917 Result Coalition victory[1]
Belligerents
French Empire	United Kingdom Portugal
Commanders and leaders
Jean Léonard Barrié	Arthur Wellesley Luís do Rego Thomas Graham
Strength
1,800[1]–2,000 153 guns	10,700–40,000[1] 36 guns
Casualties and losses
529–800[1] killed or wounded 1,000[1]–1,471 captured	250[1]–318 killed 1,100[1]–1,378 wounded

Peninsular war: Spain

200km
125miles

Toulouse

12

Vitoria

11

Tordesillas

10

Burgos

9

Salamanca

8

Ciudad

7

Talavera

6

Corunna

5

Tudela

4

Bailén

3

Valencia

2

Madrid

1

  

  current battle

  Wellington in command

  Wellington not in command

The siege of Ciudad Rodrigo was the successful investment of the French-occupied city of Ciudad Rodrigo by Lord Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese Army from 7-20 January 1812. Wellington's army, which numbered up to 40,000 men, faced a small French garrison of 1,800 troops under the command of Jean Léonard Barrié. After two breaches were blasted in the city's walls by heavy artillery units of the Royal Artillery, Ciudad Rodrigo was successfully stormed by British troops on the evening of 19 January. After overcoming the French defenders, the attacking troops went on a rampage for several hours before order was restored. The Anglo-Portuguese Army suffered casualties of about 1,700 men, including two generals killed. Strategically, the fall of the city opened the northern gateway into French-occupied Spain from Portugal.