Battle of Salamanca
Part of the Peninsular War
Site of the battle at Arapil Chico.
Date July 22, 1812 Location Salamanca, Spain Result Decisive allied victory
Combatants
United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain	French Empire
Commanders
Earl of Wellington	Auguste Marmont
Strength
51,949[1]	49,647[2]
Casualties
5,914 dead or wounded	13,000 dead, wounded, or captured

The Battle of Salamanca (July 22, 1812) was an important victory for an Anglo-Portuguese army under Earl of Wellington over marshal Marmont's French forces. The battle of fought in the Peninsular War among the Arapiles hills near Salamanca, Spain. It was said that Wellington "defeated an army of 40,000 men in 40 minutes."^{[citation needed]} Combatants Kingdom of Spain, United Kingdom, Kingdom of Portugal French Empire The Peninsular War or Spanish War of Independence (Guerra de la Independencia Española) was a war in the Iberian Peninsula. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 786 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Arapil Chico Arapil Chico Arapiles, Campo de Batalla, Provincia de Salamanca, España Photograph: Luidger (6. ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... For the overture by Tchaikovsky, see 1812 Overture; For the wars, see War of 1812 (USA - United Kingdom) or Patriotic War of 1812 (France - Russia) For the Siberia Airlines plane crashed over the Black Sea on October 4, 2001, see Siberia Airlines Flight 1812 1812 was a leap year starting... Salamanca (population 160,000) is a city in western Spain, the capital of the province of Salamanca, which belongs to the autonomous community (region) of Castile-Leon (Castilla y León). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Flag_Portugal_(1707). ... Image File history File links Spain1785. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Map of the First French Empire in 1811, with the Empire in dark blue and sattelite states in light blue Capital Paris Language(s) French Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1804-1814/1815 Napoleon I Napoleon II Legislature Parliament  - Upper house Senate  - Lower house Corps législatif History  - French Consulate  - Established 18... Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (c. ... Auguste Frédéric Louis Viesse de Marmont, Marshal of France. ... Combatants Kingdom of Spain, United Kingdom, Kingdom of Portugal French Empire The Peninsular War or Spanish War of Independence (Guerra de la Independencia Española) was a war in the Iberian Peninsula. ... Battle of Fuengirola was one of the battles of the Peninsular War. ... The Battle of Barrosa took place on March 5, 1811 between Anglo-Spanish and French forces as part of the Peninsular war. ... // In the Battle of Fuentes de Onoro (May 3 - 5, 1811) the British army under Sir Arthur Wellesley checked an attempt by French troops under Marshall André Masséna to relieve the besieged city of Almeida. ... Combatants Spain Portugal Britain France Duchy of Warsaw Commanders William Beresford Joaquin Blake Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult Strength 10,000 British 10,000 Portuguese 13,000 Spanish 38 guns 23,000 infantry 4,000 cavalry 40 guns Casualties 5,916 dead or wounded[2] 5,936 dead or wounded... Combatants United Kingdom, Portugal First French Empire Commanders Earl of Wellington General Philippon Strength 25,000 regulars 5,000 regulars Casualties 5,000 dead or wounded 1,500 dead or wounded In the Battle of Badajoz (March 16-April 6, 1812) an Anglo-Portuguese army under Earl of Wellington, besieged... Combatants France Britain Spain Portugal Commanders Jean-Baptiste Jourdan Joseph Bonaparte Arthur Wellesley Strength 58,000 78,000 Casualties 8,000 dead or wounded 2,000 captured 4,500 dead or wounded The Battle of Vitoria was fought on June 21, 1813 during the Peninsular War, between 78,000 British... Combatants France Britain Portugal Commanders Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult Arthur Wellesley Strength 80,000 60,000 Casualties 1,300 dead and 8,600 wounded 2,700 captured 4,500 dead or wounded A large-scale offensive launched[1] on 25 July 1813 by Marshal Soult from the Pyrenees region... The Battle of Sorauren was fought in late July of 1813 between French forces and the combined forces of Great Britain and Portugal. ... Combatants French Empire Spain Commanders Nicolas Jean Dieu Soult Manuel Freire Strength 18,000–55,000[1] 16,000[2] Casualties 4,000 dead or wounded[3] 2,500 dead or wounded[3] At the Battle of San Marcial, August 31, 1813, the Spanish Army of Galicia under General Freire... Combatants France Britain, Spain, Portugal Commanders Marshal Soult Arthur Wellesley, 1st Marquess of Wellington Strength 60,000 80,000 Casualties 4,351 2,450 The Battle of Nivelle (November 10, 1813) took place in front of the River Nivelle near the end of the Peninsular War (1808-1814). ... Combatants French Empire United Kingdom Spain Portugal Commanders Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult Arthur Wellesley, 1st Marquess of Wellington Strength 62,000 64,000 Casualties 1,600 1,600 The Battle of the Nive (9-12 December 1813) was a battle towards the end of the Peninsular War (1808-1814). ... The Battle of Orthez was fought on February 27, 1814, between the First French Empire and the forces of the Allies. ... The battle of Toulouse, fought on April 10, 1814, was one of the final battles of the Napoleonic Wars, although its official classification is disputed as the battle occurred four days after Napoleons surrender of the French Empire to the nations of the Sixth Coalition. ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... For the overture by Tchaikovsky, see 1812 Overture; For the wars, see War of 1812 (USA - United Kingdom) or Patriotic War of 1812 (France - Russia) For the Siberia Airlines plane crashed over the Black Sea on October 4, 2001, see Siberia Airlines Flight 1812 1812 was a leap year starting... Motto  2(French) God and my right Anthem God Save the Queen 3 United Kingdom() – on the European continent() – in the European Union() [] Location of the British overseas territories Capital London Largest conurbation (population) Greater London Urban Area Official languages English (de facto)4 Government and  -  Monarch Elizabeth II  -  Prime... Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (c. ... Auguste Frédéric Louis Viesse de Marmont, Marshal of France. ... Combatants Kingdom of Spain, United Kingdom, Kingdom of Portugal French Empire The Peninsular War or Spanish War of Independence (Guerra de la Independencia Española) was a war in the Iberian Peninsula. ... Salamanca (population 160,000) is a city in western Spain, the capital of the province of Salamanca, which belongs to the autonomous community (region) of Castile-Leon (Castilla y León). ...

The losses were 3,129 British and 2,038 Portuguese against about 13,000 French. As a consequence, his army was able to advance to and liberate Madrid for two months. The French were forced to permanently abandon Andalusia, and loss of Madrid irreparably damaged Joseph's pro-French government. Motto: De Madrid al Cielo (From Madrid to Heaven) Location Coordinates: Country Spain Autonomous Community Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid Province Madrid Administrative Divisions 21 Neighborhoods 127 Founded 9th century Government  - Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón (PP) Area  - Land 607 km² (234. ...

Background

The battle followed a frustrating period of six weeks for Wellington. His foray into central Spain in the spring of 1812 had been blocked by Marmont's army. As Wellington advanced, Marmont's strength grew as he received reinforcements. Wellington withdrew as the odds turned against him, with the armies often marching close together and Marmont repeatedly threatening Wellington's supply line. By this day, Wellington had finally decided to withdraw his army all the way back to Portugal. Suddenly, he observed that Marmont had made the tactical error of separating his left flank from his main body. (Wellington's reaction has been differently reported, with little emphasis that both he and Marmont had been looking for an opening for weeks.) He immediately ordered the major part of his army to attack the over-extended French left wing.

Battle

The battle was a succession of strokes in oblique order, initiated by the Portuguese cavalry brigade and Pakenham's 3rd division, and continued by the British heavy cavalry and the 4th, 5th and 6th divisions. The French left wing was routed. The Oblique Order (or declined or refused flank) is a military tactic where an attacking army focuses its forces to attack a single enemy flank. ... Sir Edward Michael Pakenham (19 March 1778 – 8 January 1815) was a British general who was killed at the Battle of New Orleans. ... French Republican Guard - May 8, 2005 celebrations Cavalry (from French cavalerie) were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat. ...

By chance, both Marmont and his deputy commander General Bonnet were wounded by shrapnel in the first few minutes of firing. Marmont claimed he was wounded as his wing became overextended, and his incapacitation led to the error not being corrected before Wellington attacked. His enemies placed his wounding during Wellington's attack. Records conflict. The French command confusion may have been decisive in creating the opportunity, but Wellington seized the opportunity and exploited it to the fullest.

Clausel, third in seniority, asserted command and ordered a counterattack by the French reserve toward the depleted Allied center. It had some success but Wellington had sent his reinforcements to the centre, and they decided the fight in his favour.

Outcome

The victory was flawed by the failure of Spanish troops to guard a crucial escape route over the bridge at Alba de Tormes, possibly by a misunderstanding between Spanish and British commanders. The pursuit was ineffective at capturing the fleeing French. However, it did see Wellington's German cavalry perform the astounding feat of "breaking the square" and overrunning a group of rear guard French infantrymen at Garcia Hernandez; moreover, they accomplished this twice within a few minutes. Alba de Tormes is a village and municipality in the province of Salamanca, western Spain, part of the autonomous community of Castile-Leon. ... Breaking the square refers to a cavalry charge that breaks into a defensive formation of footsoldiers. ...

The battle established Wellington as an offensive general. "He manoeuvred like Frederick the Great, in oblique order", wrote general Foy, a celebrated French divisional commander and author of memoirs about the Peninsular War.

Imperial Eagle

The Imperial Eagle of the French 62me Ligne was captured by Lieutenant Pearce of the 2/44th East Essex Regiment, a part of Lieutenant General Sir James Leith's Fifth Division. Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... The 44th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment in the British Army. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ...

Notes

References

• Gates, David. The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War. Da Capo Press 2001. ISBN 0-306-81083-2

External links

• Details on battle of Salamanca
• Includes British and allied OOB
• The Cruel War in Spain - Armies, Battles, Skirmishes
• Batalla de los Arapiles (in Spanish)