Battle of Girona (1808)

Battle of Girona (1808)
Part of Peninsular War
Independence Square in Girona commemorates the struggle against the French from 1808 to 1814.
Date 20 and 21 June 1808 Location Girona, Catalonia, Spain 41°58′N 2°49′E / 41.967°N 2.817°E / 41.967; 2.817 Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
First French Empire Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples	Kingdom of Spain
Commanders and leaders
Guillaume Duhesme Andrea Milossevich François Schwarz	Lt. Col. O'Donovan Lt. Col. O'Daly
Strength
5,900, 8 guns	2,000
Casualties and losses
700	light

Peninsular war: Spanish uprising 1808

200km
125miles

Santander

12

Bailén

11

Rioseco

10

Valencia

9

Girona

8

Zaragoza

7

Cabezón

6

Cadiz

5

Alcolea

4

Valdepeñas

3

Bruch

2

Dos de Mayo
Madrid

1

  

  current battle

The Battle of Girona on 20 and 21 June 1808 saw an Imperial French division led by Guillaume Philibert Duhesme try to overrun a Spanish garrison commanded by Lieutenant Colonels O'Donovan and O'Daly. The French assault failed and the attackers withdrew. Girona (spelled "Gerona" in Castilian) is located about halfway between the Franco-Spanish border and Barcelona on the Autovía A-7. The action occurred during the Peninsular War, part of the Napoleonic Wars.

As part of his plan to overthrow the Spanish ruling family, Emperor Napoleon ordered his soldiers to seize Barcelona in February 1808. The city's fortress was successfully occupied, but a few weeks later the Spanish people rebelled against Imperial French rule. Duhesme and his soldiers soon found themselves in difficulties. Hemmed in by Catalan militia and regular Spanish troops, the French general attempted to capture Girona in order to open up a secure supply line from France to Barcelona. The Franco-Italian force attempted to storm the city but they were repulsed by the city militia and two small battalions of Irish regular infantry in Spanish service. Duhesme fell back to Barcelona, but he returned to mount the Second siege of Girona five weeks later.