ORDER OF BATTLE // October 31, 1808
Battle of Zornoza
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 40,000 estimated
French Empire
21,000
Medium-confidence figure
Spain
19,000
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of Zornoza was one of the opening engagements of Napoleon's invasion of Spain in late 1808. The engagement was designed to encircle and destroy the left wing of the Spanish front, pitting roughly 21,000 French troops under Lefebvre against approximately 19,000 Spanish forces under Blake. Although the Spanish infantry was thrown back and sustained around 1,000 casualties, it escaped in good order, denying the French the decisive encirclement they sought. The failure to destroy Blake's force left the Spanish left wing intact as a fighting force, complicating French efforts to consolidate control in the opening phase of the Peninsular War.
‹ Full battle dossier