Battle of the Gebora (1811)

On 19 February 1811, an outnumbered French force under Marshal Édouard Mortier defeated the Spanish Army of Extremadura near Badajoz. The engagement occurred during Soult's siege, following Spanish attempts to relieve the fortress. French forces inflicted heavy casualties and captured prisoners while sustaining lighter losses, effectively routing the Spanish lines.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Marshal Soult moved the French Armée du Midi into Extremadura to besiege Badajoz, aiming to draw Allied reinforcements away from Masséna's army at the Lines of Torres Vedras. Spanish forces under Mendizábal camped near San Cristóbal. Heavy rains flooded the Guadiana and Gebora rivers, isolating the Spanish position and preventing effective French assault until mid-February.

Prelude. On 7 February, Mendizábal launched a sally against French lines, with Portuguese cavalry feinting left and infantry attacking right. Between 11 and 18 February, flooded rivers rendered the terrain impassable, limiting French action to shelling the southern Spanish line. This pushed the Spaniards away from Badajoz and the protection of the San Cristóbal fort.

Engagement. By dawn on 19 February, French forces comprised 4,500 infantry, 2,500 cavalry, and 12 cannon. Under Mortier, these troops attacked the Spanish lines. The French quickly defeated the Spanish army, inflicting 1,000 casualties and taking 4,000 prisoners while losing only 400 men. The Spanish Army of Extremadura was routed and nearly destroyed.

People involved

Sources

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