Battle of Manresa (1810)

The Battle of Manresa and Battle of Vilafranca from 21 March to 5 April 1810 saw a Spanish division led by Juan Caro and Luis González Torres de Navarra, Marquess of Campoverde attack an Imperial French brigade commanded by François Xavier de Schwarz.

Battle of Manresa (1810)
Part of Peninsular War

Manresa was burned by the French on 30 March 1812.
Date21 March – 5 April 1810
Location
Manresa, Catalonia, Spain
Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain
41°43′46″N 1°49′38″E
Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
France First French Empire Spain Kingdom of Spain
Commanders and leaders
France Pierre Augereau
France Marie François Rouyer
France François de Schwarz		 Spain Henry O'Donnell
Spain Juan Caro (WIA)
Spain Luis of Campoverde
Spain Francesc Rovira
Units involved
France VII Corps Spain Army of Catalonia
Strength
Vilafranca: 800
Manresa: 3,000		 Vilafranca: 7,300
Manresa: 7,300
Casualties and losses
Vilafranca: 800
Manresa: 852		 Vilafranca: light
Manresa: light
Peninsular war: Aragón Catalonia
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Background

Caro's division first surprised the town of Vilafranca del Penedès in March and captured its 800-man garrison made up of troops from the Confederation of the Rhine. Vilafranca is located 35 kilometres (22 mi) west of Barcelona.

Battle

The Spanish troops remained at large and fell upon the town of Manresa at the beginning of April. After several days of sparring they drove Schwarz and his German soldiers out of the town with heavy losses. Caro was wounded on 2 April and was replaced by Campoverde. The Spanish force included 2,000 regulars, 2,300 local miquelets (Catalan Militia), and Francesc Rovira i Sala's band of 3,000 miquelets. This minor disaster caused Marshal Pierre Augereau to call off Imperial troops which were threatening Tarragona. Schwarz's brigade belonged to Marie François Rouyer's division while Caro's division was part of Henry O'Donnell's Army of Catalonia. Manresa is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Barcelona. The actions occurred during the Peninsular War, part of the Napoleonic Wars.

References
  • Gates, David (2002). The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War. London: Pimlico. ISBN 0-7126-9730-6.
  • Oman, Charles (1996). A History of the Peninsular War Volume III. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole. ISBN 1-85367-223-8.
  • Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.

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