Siege of Zaragoza (1809)

Second siege of Zaragoza
Part of the Peninsular War

Assaut du monastère de Santa Engracia by Louis-François, Baron Lejeune. Depicts the fighting of February 8, 1809. Oil on canvas.
Date19 December 1808 – 20 February 1809[1]
Location41°39′00″N 0°53′00″W / 41.6500°N 0.8833°W / 41.6500; -0.8833
Result French victory[1]
Belligerents
 Spain
Commanders and leaders
José de Palafox
Strength
50,000 regulars[1] 30,000 regulars and militia[1]
1,400 cavalry
160 guns
20,000 Spanish civilians[2]
Casualties and losses
6,000 dead or wounded in combat[1]
6,000 died of disease[1]
30,000 military[1]
34,000 civilians dead[1][3]
Peninsular war: Napoleon's invasion
Map
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Maps: terms of use
200km
125miles
Corunna
14
Battle of Corunna January 1809
13
Battle of Cacabelos January 1809
12
Battle of Mansilla December 1808
11
Battle of Benavente December 1808
10
Battle of Sahagún December 1808
9
Battle of Molins de Rei December 1808
Zaragoza
8
7
Battle of Cardedeu December 1808
Somosierra
6
Battle of Somosierra November 1808
Tudela
5
Battle of Tudela November 1808
4
Battle of Espinosa November 1808
3
Battle of Burgos November 1808
Roses
2
Siege of Roses November 1808
Zornoza
1
Battle of Zornoza October 1808
  current battle
Map (1868) of the second siege of Zaragoza
Amid bitter street fighting, French infantry assault the defenders of a church during the siege. Illustration by Jules Girardet.
The surrender of Zaragoza, by Maurice Orange.

The siege of Zaragoza was the French capture of the Spanish city of Zaragoza (also known as Saragossa) in 1809 during the Peninsular War. It was particularly noted for its brutality.[4] The city was heavily outnumbered against the French. However, the desperate resistance put up by the Army of Reserve and its civilian allies had been heroic: a great part of the city lay in ruins, the garrison had suffered 24,000 deaths being augmented by 30,000 civilians dead.[5]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Bodart 1908, p. 393.
  2. ^ militari 2020.
  3. ^ georgian 2017.
  4. ^ Haythornthwaite 1996, chapter 4.
  5. ^ Esdaile 2003, pp. 159–163.