Alternative History
Alternative History
Previous:

Battle of Wavre

Concurrent:

War of the Seventh Coalition

Next:

Battle of Diepholz

Battle of Igualdada
Beginning:

4 pm, 3 July 1815

End:

2 pm, 4 July 1815

Place:

Igualdada, Kingdom of Spain

Outcome:

French victory

Combatants

Flag of France French Empire

Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931) Kingdom of Spain

Commanders

Flag of France Marshal André Masséna

Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931) Lieutenant General Joaquín Blake

Strength

54,000, 99 guns

51,000, 75 guns

Casualties and Losses

6,000–9,000 killed and wounded

About 11,000 killed and wounded, some deserted; 4 guns

The Battle of Igualdada was the largest and bloodiest battle of the Spanish Campaign of the War of the Seventh Coalition. French Marshal André Masséna, commanding the Army of the South, defeated Lieutenant General Joaquín Blake's Army of Catalonia after a bloody two-day battle, the largest fought in Spain since the Battle of Salamanca in 1812. Though not a decisive victory – Blake was able to withdraw in reasonable order with most of his army – the battle dealt irreparable damage to the legitimacy of Ferdinand VII, who would reign for just three more months. Masséna's victory here reportedly made Napoléon I say, "Masséna is the man to which the Emperor prays each night."

Background[]

Opposing armies[]

French army[]

Spanish army[]

Battle[]

First day: 3 July[]

Masséna attacks El Bruc[]

The French assault on the left flank[]

Blake withdraws west[]

The first Battle of Castellolí[]

Second day: 4 July[]

Blake's counterattack[]

The second Battle of Castellolí[]

The Spanish Royal Guard stands east of Igualdada[]

Aftermath[]