Battle of Albuera (1811)

The Battle of Albuera occurred on 16 May 1811 during the Peninsular War. A mixed British, Spanish, and Portuguese corps engaged elements of the French Army of the South near Albuera, Spain. The Allied forces defeated the French at heavy cost, marking a significant engagement in the conflict.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. In early 1811, Marshal Soult led a French expedition from Andalusia into Extremadura to draw Allied forces away from the Lines of Torres Vedras. This action aimed to ease the plight of Marshal Masséna's Army of Portugal, which had been tied down in a stand-off against Wellington's forces since October 1810.

Commanders. The Allied forces were commanded by Beresford, who held independent command of a combined Anglo-Portuguese and Spanish army. The French forces were led by Marshal Soult, an outstanding military commander who had previously taken Badajoz in 1811. Soult attempted to turn the Allied right flank on the morning of the battle.

Aftermath. Soult estimated significant Allied casualties in his despatch of 21 May 1811, including 5,000 British, 2,000 Spanish, and 700 to 800 Portuguese losses. The tradition of The Silent Toast, inherited from the 57th Regiment of Foot, remains an important part of the remembrance of this battle.

People involved

Sources

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