Battle of Arlabán (1812)

Battle of Arlabán 1812
Part of the Peninsular War
Date 9 April 1812 Location Arlabán, Guipúzcoa, Spain Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
French Empire	Kingdom of Spain
Commanders and leaders
Marie-François de Caffarelli	Francisco Espoz y Mina
Strength
2,000–3,000 regulars 150 cavalry	3,000–3,500 militia
Casualties and losses
600–700 dead or wounded 300 captured 800 prisoners released	30 dead or wounded

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. 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. The attack was a success, and after a one hour, the French were completely defeated. The Spanish casualties were estimated at 30 killed and wounded, and the French lost between 600–700 men, and 300 captured. The Spanish also rescued 800 Spanish, British and Portuguese prisoners (5 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). Joseph Bonaparte's personal secretary, Jean Deslandes, was killed in this action.

See also

• Battle of Arlabán (1811)

References

• Francisco Espoz y Mina at the Classic Encyclopedia, based on the 1911 Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica.
• Oloriz, Hermilio De. Navarra en la Guerra de la Independencia. Edit. Maxtor. Pamplona, 1910. ISBN 84-9761-463-1 (Spanish)
• Esdaile, Charles J. The Spanish Army in the Peninsular War. Manchester University Press, 1988. ISBN 0-7190-2538-9.
• Fraser, Ronald. Napoleon's Cursed War: Spanish Popular Resistance in the Peninsular War 1808-1814. Brooklyn Verso, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84467-082-6

External links

• Biografía de Francisco Espoz y Mina (Spanish)
• Francisco Espoz y Mina (Spanish)