Battle of Arlabán (1812)

Battle of Arlabán (1812)
Part of the Peninsular War
Date9 April 1812
Location
Arlabán, Spain
42°50.67′N 2°45.62′W / 42.84450°N 2.76033°W / 42.84450; -2.76033
Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
First French Empire French Empire Spain
Commanders and leaders
First French Empire Marie-François de Caffarelli Francisco Espoz y Mina
Strength
2,000–3,000[1]
150 cavalry[1]		 3,000–3,500[1]
Casualties and losses
600–700 killed or wounded[1][2]
300 captured[2]
800 prisoners released[1][3]		 30 killed, wounded or captured[1]
Peninsular War
Castile 1811–13
Map
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200km
125miles
20
Battle of Tordesillas (1812) at Tordesillas, from 25 to 29 October 1812
19
Battle of Venta del Pozo at Villodrigo, on 23 October 1812
Burgos
18
Siege of Burgos at Burgos, from 19 September to 21 October 1812
17
Battle of Majadahonda at Majadahonda, on 11 August 1812
16
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Salamanca
15
Battle of Salamanca at Salamanca, on 22 July 1812
Astorga
14
Siege of Astorga (1812) at Astorga, from 29 June to 19 August 1812
13
Battle of Maguilla at Maguilla, on 11 June 1812
12
Battle of Almaraz at Almaraz, from 18 to 19 May 1812
11
Battle of Villagarcia at Villagarcia, on 11 April 1812
Ciudad Rodrigo
10
Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo (1812) at Ciudad Rodrigo, from 7 to 20 January 1812
9
Battle of Navas de Membrillo at Navas de Membrillo, on 29 December 1811
8
Battle of Arroyo dos Molinos at Arroyo dos Molinos, on 28 October 1811
7
Battle of Cogorderos at Cogorderos, on 23 June 1811
Arlabán
6
Battle of Arlabán (1811) on 25 May 1811 Battle of Arlabán (1812) on 9 April 1812
5
Battle of Usagre at Usagre, on 25 May 1811
Albuera
4
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Campo Maior
3
Battle of Campo Maior at Campo Maior, on 25 March 1811
2
Battle of the Gebora at Gebora, on 19 February 1811
Badajoz
1
First siege of Badajoz (1811) from 26 January 1811 to 11 March 1811 Second siege of Badajoz (1811) from 22 April to 12 May 1811 from 19 May to 10 June 1811 Siege of Badajoz (1812) from 16 March to 6 April 1812
  current battle

The Battle of Arlabán of 1812, also known as the Second Surprise of Arlabán, took place in the mountain pass of Arlabán, Guipúzcoa, Basque Country, near the border with France, on 9 April 1812, during the Peninsular War.[1][4] A Spanish force of 3,000–3,500 men led by Francisco Espoz y Mina intercepted a great French convoy (2,000–3,000 regulars and 150 cavalry) of General of Division Caffarelli.[4]

The attack was a success, and after one hour, the French were completely defeated.[2] The Spanish casualties were estimated at 30 killed and wounded, and the French lost between 600 and 700 men, and 300 captured.[1][2] The Spanish also rescued 800 Spanish, British and Portuguese prisoners (five officers), and captured the valuable convoy (weapons and baggage, two colours, letters from Joseph Bonaparte to Napoleon, and a great amount of jewelry, valued between 700,000 and 800,000 francs).[1][3] Joseph Bonaparte's personal secretary, Jean Deslandes, was killed in this action.[1][2]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j estella 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e aunamendi 2009.
  3. ^ a b Oloriz 1910, pp. 183–184.
  4. ^ a b Oloriz 1910, p. 182.

References

  • Oloriz, Hermilio De (1910). Navarra en la Guerra de la Independencia (in Spanish). Pamplona: Maxtor. ISBN 84-9761-463-1.
  • estella (2009). "La Guerra de la Independencia en Navarra (IV)" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 23 January 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  • aunamendi (2009). "Auñamendi Entziklopedia" (in Spanish).

Further reading