Conflict: | Battle of María |
Partof: | the Peninsular War |
Date: | 15 June 1809 |
Place: | María de Huerva, Spain |
Result: | French victory |
Combatant1: | First French Empire |
Combatant2: | Kingdom of Spain |
Commander1: | Louis Gabriel Suchet |
Commander2: | Joaquín Blake |
Units1: | III Corps |
Units2: | Army of Aragon |
Strength1: | 11,300 12 guns |
Strength2: | 20,000 23 guns |
Casualties1: | 800 |
Casualties2: | 4,500 20 guns |
The Battle of María (15 June 1809) saw a small Spanish army led by Joaquín Blake y Joyes face an Imperial French corps under Louis Gabriel Suchet.
The Spanish campaign in early 1809 started with the Battle of Uclés.
After an inconclusive contest earlier in the day, Suchet's cavalry made a decisive charge that resulted in a French victory. Though the Spanish right wing was crushed, the rest of Blake's army got away in fairly good order after abandoning most of its artillery. María de Huerva is located 17km (11miles) southwest of Zaragoza, Spain. The action occurred during the Peninsular War which was part of the larger struggle known as the Napoleonic Wars.
The Spanish campaign in early 1809 proceeded with the French advance in Catalonia in the Battle of Belchite.