BATTLE // August 8, 1809
Battle of Arzobispo
LOADING MAP TELEMETRY…
Source · Wikipedia
Significance
The Battle of Arzobispo was fought three days after the larger engagement at Talavera de la Reina, and it extended French pressure along the Tagus River following that contested action. Soult's two corps forced a crossing of the Tagus at El Puente del Arzobispo, roughly 36 kilometres southwest of Talavera, inflicting disproportionate losses on Alburquerque's Spanish force — 1,600 casualties and 30 artillery pieces captured or lost. The rapid Spanish retreat and the loss of that artillery weakened the Allied position in the region and demonstrated the continued ability of French forces to project offensive action along the river line even after the attritional fighting at Talavera. Within the broader Peninsular War, the action underscored the difficulty Spanish forces faced in holding river crossings against concentrated French corps-level assaults.
Tactics
Two Imperial French corps under Soult conducted an assault crossing of the Tagus River against the Spanish defenders. Following the crossing, Alburquerque's force suffered heavy casualties and rapidly retreated, losing 30 artillery pieces in the process. The overview does not describe the specific maneuvers, formations, or terrain use beyond the river crossing itself.
Forces & casualties
Troop strength
- French Empire10,000medium
- Kingdom of Spain8,000medium
French Empire fielded a 1.3 : 1 numerical advantage
Casualties
- Kingdom of Spain1,600medium20% loss rate
Commanders (2)
French Empire
Jean-de-Dieu SoultMarshal of the Empire
Kingdom of Spain
Duke of Alburquerquegeneral
Compare with sibling battle
6 options
Pick a battle to compare side-by-side
Related
6 sibling battles · 3 factions