Battle of Saguntum

Battle of Saguntum (1811)
Part of Peninsular War
Battle of Saguntum
Date 25 October 1811 Location Sagunto, Spain Result French victory
Belligerents
French Empire	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Louis Suchet	Joaquín Blake
Strength
20,000	28,000
Casualties and losses
1,000	6,000

The Battle of Saguntum on 25 October 1811 saw the French Army of Aragon under Marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet fighting a Spanish army led by Lieutenant General Joaquín Blake y Joyes. The Spanish attempt to raise the siege of the castle of Sagunto (Saguntum) failed when the French, Italians, and Poles drove their troops off the battlefield in rout. The action took place during the Peninsular War, part of the Napoleonic Wars. The city lies a short distance from the east coast of Spain, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of Valencia.

Suchet invaded the province of Valencia in September 1811. He tried to quickly seize the castle of Saguntum, but its garrison repulsed two attacks and the French-Allied army was forced to lay siege to the ancient fortress. When Blake's army advanced from Valencia, Suchet posted his smaller army to resist the Spanish. Blake's attack on Suchet's right flank went awry and soon the poorly trained Spanish troops were fleeing. The Spanish troops attacking Suchet's left flank were made of sterner stuff, however, and the contest there was more severe. Finally, the French-Allied troops gained the upper hand and put the entire Spanish army to flight. Blake's soldiers limped back to Valencia where they tried to put that city's defences in order.

Result

Castle of Saguntum

Spanish losses numbered 6,000 killed and wounded, plus several hundred prisoners, some cannons, and four colors. The 2,500-man garrison of Saguntum, demoralized after watching their relief army scattered, surrendered the next day. Suchet lost only 1,000 killed and wounded, but apart from the seizing the castle, he was unable to immediately capitalize on his victory. His army was too small to capture Valencia, especially after his battle losses and the need to provide a garrison for Saguntum. For several weeks the French-Allies paused to wait for reinforcements before launching the next phase of their offensive.

References

• Gates, David. The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War. London: Pimlico, 2002. ISBN 0-7126-9730-6
• Ojala, Jeanne A. "Suchet: The Peninsular Marshal". Chandler, David (ed.). Napoleon's Marshals. New York: Macmillan, 1987. ISBN 0-02-905930-5