Battle of Corunna

Overview

The Battle of Corunna, in Spain known as Battle of Elviña, took place on 16 January 1809, when a French corps under Marshal of the Empire Jean de Dieu Soult attacked a British army under Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore. The battle took place during the Peninsular War, which was part of the wider Napoleonic Wars.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Corunna on 16 January 1809 was fought between a French corps under Marshal Soult and a British army under Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore during the Peninsular War. The engagement occurred in the context of the broader Napoleonic Wars. With French forces numbering approximately 12,000 and British forces around 15,000, casualties on both sides were relatively limited, ranging from several hundred on each side. The battle is notable as part of the British retreat to the coast of northern Spain, representing a critical moment in the early Peninsular campaign where British forces sought to maintain their presence in the Iberian Peninsula under sustained French pressure.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (12)