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. While his personal bravery was never in question, Cuesta's reputation long suffered during and after the war, in part due to English hostility. Cuesta was proud, stubborn, and notoriously difficult to cooperate with, but is now remembered as an officer of respectable ability whose failures were caused largely by the limitations of the military machine which he had the misfortune of leading. // Events April 10 - Austrian army attack troops of Frederick the Great at Mollwitz August 10 - Raja of Travancore defeats Dutch East India Company naval expedition at Battle of Colachel December 19 - Vitus Bering dies in his expedition east of Siberia December 25 - Anders Celsius develops his own thermometer scale Celsius... 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... General is a high military rank, used by nearly every country in the world. ... The Peninsular War (1808–1814) (known as War of Independence in Spain as French Invasions in Portugal and as Guerre dEspagne in France) was a major conflict during the Napoleonic Wars, fought in the Iberian Peninsula with Spanish, Portuguese, and the British forces fighting against Napoleonic French. ... The English people are an indigenous European ethnic group originating in the lowlands of Great Britain and are drawn from a composite population descended from a combination of Romano-Celts and Angles, Saxons and Jutes. ... In military organizations, an officer is a member of the service who holds a position of responsibility. ...

Born in Santander to a family of petty nobles, Cuesta entered military service in 1758 as a member of the Royal Guards Regiment. He saw some success as a Lieutenant General in the War of the First Coalition, but military setbacks and political intrigues prevented further advancement until the turmoil of 1805 produced his appointment to Commander in Chief of the Army of Old Castile. The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain between Asturias (to the west) and the Basque Country (to the east). ... The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the Windows of the Lodge of the Heralds. ... 1758 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... The name First Coalition (1793–1797) designates the first major concerted effort of multiple European powers to contain revolutionary France. ... 1805 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Commander-in-Chief is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ... Old Castille (Spanish: Castilla la Vieja) is an historic region of Spain, which included territory that later corresponded to the provinces of politically, Santander (now Cantabria), Burgos, Logroño (now La Rioja), Soria, Segovia, and Ávila, to which some scholars add Valladolid and Palencia. ...

When war with France broke out in 1808, Cuesta's army was virtually nonexistent. His hastily-recruited force of 7,000 militia stood no chance against the Grande Armée and was defeated at Cabezón, forcing Cuesta's withdrawal from his seat of command at Valladolid. 1808 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... A militia is a group of citizens organized to provide paramilitary service. ... La Grande Armée (in English, the Big or Grand Army) is the French military term for the main force in a military campaign. ... Plaza Mayor and city hall, Valladolid The unfinished cathedral and the Plaza de Cervantes, near the University of Valladolid The church of Santa María la Antigua, Valladolid Valladolid is an industrial city in central Spain, upon the Rio Pisuerga. ...

In the absence of a military and political command structure, strategy and coordination with other Spanish forces proved impossible. Cuesta managed to combine what was left of his army with Lieutenant General Blake's Army of Galicia but, paralyzed by disunity of command, the pair was defeated on July 14 at the Battle of Medina de Rioseco. Geographically, one of the most important features of Galicia is the presence of many fjord-like indentations on the coast, estuaries that were drowned with rising sea levels after the ice age. ... July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ...

Negotiations with the Central Junta led to Cuesta's brief promotion to Commander in Chief of the Spanish Army. He was soon sacked and arrested due to political intrigues. In modern usage, junta (pronounced as in Spanish HUN-ta or HOON-ta) typically refers to a military dictatorship, especially in Latin America, which is officially run by a committee of high-ranking military officers. ... The Spanish Army (Ejército de Tierra in Spanish; literally, Land Army) is one branch of the Spanish armed forces, in charge of land operations. ...

Following the loss of Madrid to Napoleon at the Battle of Somosierra the situation in Spain became more desperate and Cuesta was allowed to reconstitute the Army of Extremadura in order to defend the southern frontier. In defiance of the military wisdom of the time Cuesta went on the offensive immediately after he had constructed a credible fighting force. This met with success. In January and February of 1809, all of Badajoz was reclaimed from the French. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Napoleon I of France, by Jacques-Louis David Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution, and the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from 11 November 1799 to 18 May 1804, then as Emperor of the... The Battle of Somosierra (sometimes also rendered Battle of Samosierra) took place on November 30, 1808 in the gorge of Somosierra in Spanish Sierra de Guadarrama. ... Capital Mérida Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 5th  41 634 km²  8,2% Population  â€“ Total (2003)  â€“ % of Spain  â€“ Density Ranked 13th  1 073 050  2,6%  25,77/km² Demonym  â€“ English  â€“ Spanish  â€”  extremeño/a, castúo Statute of Autonomy February 26... February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Badajoz is a province of western Spain, in the southern part of the autonomous community of Extremadura. ...

In a move characteristic of the Spanish bureaucracy's singular inefficiency, Cuesta was refused supplies and reinforcements until local authorities could review the appointments he had made to the army. Bureaucracy is a concept in sociology and political science. ...

As a result, a French offensive in the Spring annulled Cuesta's previous gains. On March 26, Cuesta was wounded and his army soundly defeated at the Battle of Medellín. Afterwards, he joined forces with the British under Wellington, who despised him. Relations with his British allies were difficult and more defeats followed. His enemies at court rejoiced and plotted. Spring is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). ... The Most Noble Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (c. ... A royal or noble court, as an instrument of government broader than a court of justice, comprises an extended household centered on a patron whose rule may govern law or be governed by it. ...

In 1810, Cuesta suffered a serious wound from which he died a year later. 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

External links

A biography of Gregorio García de la Cuesta by Jose Manuel Rodriguez and Arsenio Garcia Fuentes