SIEGES AND GREAT BATTLES OF BADAJOZ

The strategic position of Badajoz, has caused frequent armed clashes, related to the possession of the square or with in the control of the zone, to assure the supply and step of the different armies who were operating on Spain and Portugal. Impressive battles during the Christian reconquest, when the peninsula was dividing between North and South.

Terrible clashes in the Wars of Restoration of Portugal and of Succession of Spain. And later, during the French invasions that gave place to the War of the Independence (peninsular wars, according to some authors), period the latter where the strong square of Badajoz four hard and bloody sieges.

October 23, 1086

Christian Commandand: Alfonso VI de Castilla

Trops christians: 30.000

Command Muslim: Yusuf ibn Tasfin

Arabs trops: 45.000

Duration of the battle: 1 day

Resultat:

Christians killed: 6.000

Muslims killed: 4.500

Victory:ALMORAVIDES

BATTLE OF MONTIJO

May 26, 1644

Command castellano: Marquess of Torrescusa

Castellana Troops: 8,500

Command Portuguese: Mathias of Alburquerque

Troops Portuguese: 9,000

Duration of the battle: 3 days

Result:

Castellanos killed: no data

Portuguese dead: no data

Victory: 1 Stage Montijo: PORTUGUESES

Victory: 2º Stage Castilians

BATTLE OF THE LINHAS DE ELVAS

January 14, 1659

 Command Spanish: Luis de Haro,

Spanish Troops: 16,000

Command Portuguese:

io Lu�s of Meneses

D. António Luís de Meneses

Troops Portuguese: 11,000

Duration of the battle: 1 day.

Result:

Castellanos killed: 5,000 - 6,000

Portuguese killed: Wounded

Victory: PORTUGAL

        TO GO: 200 ANIVERSARY OF THE SIEGES OF BADAJOZ

 FIRST SIEGE 

 Of 26/1 to 10/3/1811 

Control of the square:

Marshall Rafael Menacho

On dead March 3, the General Imaz is replaced poe

Troops defenders: 7.000 h

+ Ej. of Estremadura: 3.000 h

Control of the site:

General Mortier, Duke of Trevise

Attacking troops: 20.000 ¿?

SQUARE THOUGHT BY FRANCE

 SECOND SIEGE 

  Of 3/5 al 14/5/1811  

Square command:

General Armand Philippon

Garrison of the square: 9,000

Site command:

General Beresford

Attacking troops: 12,000 Portuguese

+ 2,000 Spaniards

On May 14, General Beresford lifted the siege and directed his troops to La Albuera to present battle to the army of Marshal Soult, along with English, Portuguese and Spanish.

 THIRD SIEGE 

 Of 20/5 al 17/6 de 1811  

Square command:

General Armand Philippon

Defending troops: 4,500

Site command: General Beresford

Attacking troops: 32,000

Faced with the threat of a 63,000 army corps approaching Badajoz from Merida, General Beresfor ordered the retreat of his army to the south and Portugal.

THE SQUARE WAS NOT TAKEN

 FOURTH SIEGE 

 Of 17/3 al 7/4 de 1812 

Square command: 

General Armand Philippon

Defending troops: 5,000

Site command:

Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington

Attacking troops: 25,000

Defensive casualties: 1,500 killed and wounded

Attacking Casualties: 5,000 killed and wounded

PLAZA TAKEN BY THE ALIADOS

BATTLE OF BADAJOZ (14 Agosto de 1936)

HISTORY

BADAJOZ

TO VISIT CYTIES OF EXTREMADURA AND ALENTEJO