Battle of Sabugal

Battle of Sabugal
Part of the Peninsular War

The 43rd Regiment of Foot during the battle
Date3 April 1811
Location
Sabugal, Portugal
40°21′N 7°05′W / 40.350°N 7.083°W / 40.350; -7.083
Result Anglo-Portuguese victory
Belligerents
 United Kingdom
 Portugal
 French Empire
Commanders and leaders
Arthur Wellesley
Sir William Erskine
André Masséna
Strength
10,000 12,000
Casualties and losses
500 1,500

The Battle of Sabugal was an engagement of the Peninsular War which took place on 3 April 1811 between Anglo-Portuguese forces under Arthur Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington) and French troops under the command of Marshal André Masséna. It was the last of many skirmishes between Masséna's retreating French forces and those of the Anglo-Portuguese under Wellington, who were pursuing him after the failed 1810 French invasion of Portugal.

In poor weather, with heavy rain and fog, Allied forces succeeded in forcing the demoralized French force into retreat. The victory was lauded by the British; Sir Harry Smith, then a junior officer of the 95th Rifles and a participant in the battle, remarked "Oh, you Kings and usurpers should view these scenes and moderate ambition" while Wellesley later referred to the Light Division's action in the battle as "one of the most glorious that British troops were ever engaged in".