Battle of Arlabán (1812)
Part of the Peninsular War
Date9 April 1812
Location
Arlabán, Spain
42°50.67′N 2°45.62′W / 42.84450°N 2.76033°W / 42.84450; -2.76033
Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
First French Empire French Empire Spain
Commanders and leaders
First French Empire Marie-François de Caffarelli Francisco Espoz y Mina
Strength
2,000–3,000[1]
150 cavalry[1]		 3,000–3,500[1]
Casualties and losses
600–700 killed or wounded[1][2]
300 captured[2]
800 prisoners released[1][3]		 30 killed, wounded or captured[1]
Peninsular War
Castile 1811–13
🌍
  current battle

The Battle of Arlabán of 1812, also known as the Second Surprise of Arlabán, took place in the mountain pass of Arlabán, Guipúzcoa, Basque Country, near the border with France, on 9 April 1812, during the Peninsular War.[1][4] A Spanish force of 3,000–3,500 men led by Francisco Espoz y Mina intercepted a great French convoy (2,000–3,000 regulars and 150 cavalry) of General of Division Caffarelli.[4]

The attack was a success, and after one hour, the French were completely defeated.[2] The Spanish casualties were estimated at 30 killed and wounded, and the French lost between 600 and 700 men, and 300 captured.[1][2] The Spanish also rescued 800 Spanish, British and Portuguese prisoners (five officers), and captured the valuable convoy (weapons and baggage, two colours, letters from Joseph Bonaparte to Napoleon, and a great amount of jewelry, valued between 700,000 and 800,000 francs).[1][3] Joseph Bonaparte's personal secretary, Jean Deslandes, was killed in this action.[1][2]

See also

Notes

References

  • Oloriz, Hermilio De (1910). Navarra en la Guerra de la Independencia (in Spanish). Pamplona: Maxtor. ISBN 84-9761-463-1.
  • estella (2009). "La Guerra de la Independencia en Navarra (IV)" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 23 January 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  • aunamendi (2009). "Auñamendi Entziklopedia" (in Spanish).

Further reading

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