Battle of Castalla (1812)

Battle of Castalla (1812)
Part of Peninsular War

Battle of Castalla, 21 July 1812, by Jean-Charles Langlois
Date21 July 1812
Location38°36′N 0°40′W / 38.600°N 0.667°W / 38.600; -0.667
Result French victory
Belligerents
First French Empire Kingdom of Spain
Commanders and leaders
Jean Harispe Joseph O'Donnell
Units involved
Army of Aragon Army of Murcia
Strength
4,000 10,000
Casualties and losses
200 3,000
2 guns
Peninsular War: Aragón Catalonia
220km
137miles
21
20
Castalla
19
18
Valencia
17
Saguntum
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
María
3
2
1
  current battle

In the Battle of Castalla (21 July 1812) a small Spanish army commanded by Joseph O'Donnell advanced to attack an Imperial French division under the leadership of Jean Isidore Harispe. O'Donnell's battle plan was poorly conceived and the outnumbered French smashed his center column before his right and left wings could intervene. The engagement occurred during the Peninsular War, part of the Napoleonic Wars. The battle was fought near Castalla, 32 kilometres (20 mi) north-west of Alicante, Spain.