The Dos de Mayo Uprising had put Iberia in revolt against French rule. Word spread quickly of an armed conflict between partisans of the monarchy and French troops thanks to the comerciants selling wine. Three days later the city priest, Juan Antonio León-Vezares "El cura calao", called for a session in which he insisted that the city mayor, Francisco María Osorio Becerra, form an independent government body, called "Junta". This new government was led by the priest himself, the city mayor, and the vice president of the city mayoralty, Juan Rojo Baylón. They took control of the city government and decided to not cooperate with the French and to block the passage of French troops. The "City Junta", took charge of the defence of the city. With local command positions distributed between the three main members including the following members of the city: Manuel Madero Candelas; Miguel de Gregorio "El mercader" with the immediate subordinates Francisco Domingo Valiente Rodríguez; Juan Flores; Alfonso Molero Salmerón; José Casero; and José Pareja.
By early June the city had armed itself with muskets and homemade weapons. By 6 June, following the previous day's uprising at Santa Cruz de Mudela, the French generals Ligier-Belair and Roize, at the head of 800 troops, including 250 dragoons, and 300 soldiers who had escaped from the Santa Cruz uprising, prepared to march through the town of Valdepeñas.
Realizing the intentions of the French, the city decided to try and negotiate with the French delegation, armed with firearms created by "El cura calao", "El mercader" and Madero Candelas. At the meeting with general Ligier-Belair, the representatives of Valdepeñas told him that they would not allow the passage of the French troops. According to sources, the French commander replied that there was "little you can do to avoid it." In response, Calao responded that "At scarce armament, we will replace it with our will and bodies." Nevertheless, the French general decided to force his march through the town later that day.
Uprisingedit
The population, including women such as Juana Galán, who became a national heroine, attacked the leading column and Ligier-Belair sent in the dragoons, who were forced to retreat.[3][4]
Finally, the French troops set fire to the houses and fired upon the fleeing population. The fires raged for three days and the resulting truce stipulated that the French troops would not pass through the village in return for a day's worth of food supplies.[3]
The guerrilla actions at Santa Cruz and Valdepeñas, together with more isolated actions in the Sierra Morena itself, effectively cut French military communications between Madrid and Andalusia for around a month.[2]
Gilet, Francisco (2020). "Dos heroinas contra Napoleon". Retrieved 1 May 2021.
"Heroes del Seis de Junio" [Heroes of the 6th of June] (in Spanish). Valdepeñas City Council.
Madrid y Medina, Ángela (1981). Valdepeñas. Instituto de Estudios Manchegos. Editorial Clunia. ISBN9788400048419. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
Rudorff, Raymond (1974). War to the death : the siege of Saragossa, 1808-1809. London : Hamilton. ISBN978-0-241-02449-2. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
External linksedit
Media related to Battle of Valdepeñas at Wikimedia Commons
March 16, 2024
battle, valdepeñas, battle, valdepeñas, spanish, contienda, valdepeñas, popular, uprising, that, took, place, june, 1808, beginning, spanish, independence, town, valdepeñas, ciudad, real, castile, mancha, valdepeñas, main, road, from, madrid, andalusia, part, . The battle of Valdepenas Spanish Contienda de Valdepenas was a popular uprising that took place on 6 June 1808 at the beginning of the Spanish War of Independence in the town of Valdepenas Ciudad Real Castile La Mancha Valdepenas is on the main road from Madrid to Andalusia 2 Battle of ValdepenasPart of the Peninsular WarValdepenas Uprising against French TroopsDate6 June 1808LocationValdepenas Ciudad Real Castile La Mancha38 46 N 3 24 W 38 767 N 3 400 W 38 767 3 400ResultSpanish victory French communication lines disruptedBelligerentsFrench EmpireKingdom of SpainCommanders and leadersLouis Liger BelairRoizeJuan Antonio Leon VezaresFrancisco Maria Osorio BecerraJuan Rojo Baylon 1 Strength1 100UnknownCasualties and lossesUnknownUnknown Peninsular war Spanish uprising 1808200km125miles Santander12Bailen11Rioseco10Valencia9Girona8Zaragoza7Cabezon6Cadiz5Alcolea4Valdepenas3Bruch2 Dos de MayoMadrid1 current battle Valdepenas Uprising Contents 1 Background 2 Uprising 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 Citations 6 References 7 External linksBackground editThe Dos de Mayo Uprising had put Iberia in revolt against French rule Word spread quickly of an armed conflict between partisans of the monarchy and French troops thanks to the comerciants selling wine Three days later the city priest Juan Antonio Leon Vezares El cura calao called for a session in which he insisted that the city mayor Francisco Maria Osorio Becerra form an independent government body called Junta This new government was led by the priest himself the city mayor and the vice president of the city mayoralty Juan Rojo Baylon They took control of the city government and decided to not cooperate with the French and to block the passage of French troops The City Junta took charge of the defence of the city With local command positions distributed between the three main members including the following members of the city Manuel Madero Candelas Miguel de Gregorio El mercader with the immediate subordinates Francisco Domingo Valiente Rodriguez Juan Flores Alfonso Molero Salmeron Jose Casero and Jose Pareja By early June the city had armed itself with muskets and homemade weapons By 6 June following the previous day s uprising at Santa Cruz de Mudela the French generals Ligier Belair and Roize at the head of 800 troops including 250 dragoons and 300 soldiers who had escaped from the Santa Cruz uprising prepared to march through the town of Valdepenas Realizing the intentions of the French the city decided to try and negotiate with the French delegation armed with firearms created by El cura calao El mercader and Madero Candelas At the meeting with general Ligier Belair the representatives of Valdepenas told him that they would not allow the passage of the French troops According to sources the French commander replied that there was little you can do to avoid it In response Calao responded that At scarce armament we will replace it with our will and bodies Nevertheless the French general decided to force his march through the town later that day Uprising editThe population including women such as Juana Galan who became a national heroine attacked the leading column and Ligier Belair sent in the dragoons who were forced to retreat 3 4 Finally the French troops set fire to the houses and fired upon the fleeing population The fires raged for three days and the resulting truce stipulated that the French troops would not pass through the village in return for a day s worth of food supplies 3 Aftermath editThe Dos de Mayo Uprising had put Iberia in revolt against French rule leading to the Battle of Cabezon The guerrilla actions at Santa Cruz and Valdepenas together with more isolated actions in the Sierra Morena itself effectively cut French military communications between Madrid and Andalusia for around a month 2 See also editTimeline of the Peninsular WarCitations edit Heroes del Seis de Junio a b Gilet 2020 a b Rudorff 1974 p 101 Madrid y Medina 1981 p 30 References editGilet Francisco 2020 Dos heroinas contra Napoleon Retrieved 1 May 2021 Heroes del Seis de Junio Heroes of the 6th of June in Spanish Valdepenas City Council Madrid y Medina Angela 1981 Valdepenas Instituto de Estudios Manchegos Editorial Clunia ISBN 9788400048419 Retrieved 29 April 2021 Rudorff Raymond 1974 War to the death the siege of Saragossa 1808 1809 London Hamilton ISBN 978 0 241 02449 2 Retrieved 29 April 2021 External links edit nbsp Media related to Battle of Valdepenas at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Valdepenas amp oldid 1213157270, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
