Battle of María explained

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.

Background

The Spanish campaign in early 1809 started with the Battle of Uclés.

Battle

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.

Aftermath

The Spanish campaign in early 1809 proceeded with the French advance in Catalonia in the Battle of Belchite.

References

Further reading