The Battle of Talavera was a battle of the Peninsular War. It took place on July 27 – July 28, 1809, when having driven Marshal Soult's French army from Portugal, General Sir Arthur Wellesley's 20,000 British troops joined forces with 33,000 Spanish troops under General Cuesta and marched up the river Tagus valley to Talavera de la Reina, 70 miles south-west of Madrid. Lieutenant General Wellington was not elevated to ist Duke of Wellington until 1814 The Peninsular War (1808–1814) (known as War of Independence in Spain, as French Invasions in Portugal, as Guerre dEspagne in France and as Frenchs War in Catalonia) was a major conflict during the Napoleonic Wars, fought in the Iberian Peninsula with Spanish, Portuguese, and the British forces... July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... July 28 is the 209th day (210th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 156 days remaining. ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Talavera de la Reina is a city in the western part of the province of Toledo, which in turn is part of the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. ... Madrid is the capital and largest city in Spain, as well as in the province and the autonomous community of the same name. ... Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (c. ... Gregorio García de la Cuesta y Fernandez de Celis (1741 – 1811) was a prominent Spanish general of the Peninsular War known for his participation in many unfortunate military and political episodes. ... Horace François Bastien Sebastiani (1772-1851) was a French soldier and diplomat. ... Joseph Bonaparte Joseph Bonaparte (January 7, 1768 – July 28, 1844) was the elder brother of the French Emperor Napoleon I, who made him King of Naples (1806–1808) and King of Spain (1808–1813). ... The Peninsular War (1808–1814) (known as War of Independence in Spain, as French Invasions in Portugal, as Guerre dEspagne in France and as Frenchs War in Catalonia) was a major conflict during the Napoleonic Wars, fought in the Iberian Peninsula with Spanish, Portuguese, and the British forces... The Battle of Bailén was a series of clashes between the Spanish regular army— operating in conjunction with guerilla formations—under Generals Castaños and Reding and the French commanded by General Pierre Dupont, between July 18 and July 22, 1808, as a part of the Peninsular War. ... The Battle of Roliça was fought on August 17, 1808 near the village of Roliça in Portugal, between the British under the Duke of Wellington and the French under General Delaborde. ... The Battle of Vimeiro was fought on August 20, 1808 and resulted the victory of the British under the Duke of Wellington against the French under General Junot. ... Combatants Britain France Commanders John Moore † Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult Strength 14,000 16,000 Casualties 900 dead or wounded 2,000 dead or wounded {{{notes}}} It has been suggested that Battle of Coruña be merged into this article or section. ... The Battle of Buçaco was a battle of the Peninsular War, fought by British and Portuguese forces under the command of the Duke of Wellington on September 27, 1810, to check French pursuit of his retreat to the Lines of Torres Vedras. ... Battle of Fuengirola was one of the battles of the Peninsular War. ... The Lines of Torres Vedras The Lines of Torres Vedras were a line of forts in Portugal built in secrecy between November 1809 and September 1810 during 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. ... The Battle of Fuentes de Onoro was fought on May 3 - 5, 1811 and resulted in an undecided battle between French troops under Marshall André Masséna and British under Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. ... The Battle of Albuera was a battle of the Peninsular War which took place on May 16, 1811, at Albuera, about 12 miles south of Badajoz between the French Army, under the command of Field Marshal Soult, and an Allied force of British, Spanish, and Portuguese troops. ... Combatants United Kingdom Portugal France Commanders Sir Arthur Wellesley General Philippon Strength 25,000 men 5,000 men Casualties 4,800 casualties Unknown Between March 16 and April 6, 1812, the Spanish city of Badajoz was besieged by an Anglo-Portuguese army under the command of Sir Arthur Wellesley, finally... The Battle of Salamanca was fought among the Arapiles hills near Salamanca in Spain on July 22, 1812, and resulted in an Anglo-Portuguese tactical victory under Lord Wellington against the French under marshal Marmont. ... The Battle of Vitoria was fought on June 21, 1813 during the Peninsular War, between 78,000 British, Portuguese and Spanish troops, with 96 guns, under the Marquis of Wellington, and 58,000 French with 153 guns under King Joseph Bonaparte and Marshal Jourdan. ... The Battle of Sorauren was fought in late July of 1813 between French forces and the combined forces of Great Britain and Portugal. ... The Peninsular War (1808–1814) (known as War of Independence in Spain, as French Invasions in Portugal, as Guerre dEspagne in France and as Frenchs War in Catalonia) was a major conflict during the Napoleonic Wars, fought in the Iberian Peninsula with Spanish, Portuguese, and the British forces... July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... July 28 is the 209th day (210th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 156 days remaining. ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult, marshal of France Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult, duc de Dalmatie (March 29, 1769 – November 26, 1851), Marshal of France, was born at Saint-Arnans-la-Bastide (now in the Tarn département), and was the son of a country notary at that place. ... Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (c. ... Gregorio García de la Cuesta y Fernandez de Celis (1741 – 1811) was a prominent Spanish general of the Peninsular War known for his participation in many unfortunate military and political episodes. ... View over Tejo River from Almourol Castle in Portugal (May 2005). ... Talavera de la Reina is a city in the western part of the province of Toledo, which in turn is part of the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. ... Madrid is the capital and largest city in Spain, as well as in the province and the autonomous community of the same name. ...

Here they encountered 50,000 French under Marshals Victor and Sebastiani, with the French king of Spain, Joseph Bonaparte, in nominal command. Owing to poor cooperation with General Cuesta the British bore most of the weight of this hard-fought set-piece battle, for which the Spaniards were untrained, and withstood the French attacks at a cost of 5,500 killed or wounded. The Spaniards lost about 1,000 and the French 7,390 killed or wounded. Many of the wounded on both sides were burnt to death when the dry grass caught fire. To avoid an immediate conflict with Marshal Soult's advancing army, Wellesley reatreated into Portugal again. After this battle he was created Viscount Wellington. Horace François Bastien Sebastiani (1772-1851) was a French soldier and diplomat. ... Joseph Bonaparte Joseph Bonaparte (January 7, 1768 – July 28, 1844) was the elder brother of the French Emperor Napoleon I, who made him King of Naples (1806–1808) and King of Spain (1808–1813). ... The Dukedom of Wellington is a hereditary title and the senior Dukedom in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. ...

Detail

The French crossed the Alberche at 15:00 on July 27. The whole of the Spanish army had already retreated after hearing the sound of their own shots. At 17:00, the French attacked the right of the Spaniards and the British left. One hill was taken, lost and retaken until held firmly by the British. At daybreak on July 28, the French attacked the British left again to retake the hill and were repulsed. A cannonade took place until noon when an armistice of two hours took place. At 14:00, a very heavy cannonade started ahead of various infantry and cavalry skirmishes. At about 17:30-18:00, a major engagement resulted in the French being held off. A cannonade continued until dark. At daylight the next day, the French had retired, leaving their wounded and two brigades of artillery in the field. July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... July 28 is the 209th day (210th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 156 days remaining. ...

Reference

• Some Remarks concerning the Royal Artillery at the Battle of Talavera by Major John H. Leslie, R.A. in the Journal of the Royal Artillery (Vol XXXIV No. 11 Feb 1908)

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