Battle of Valmaseda

Battle of Valmaseda
Part of the Peninsular War
Date 5 November 1808 Location Valmaseda, near Bilbao, Spain 43°11′N 3°11′W / 43.183°N 3.183°W / 43.183; -3.183 Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
French Empire	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Eugene-Casimir Villatte	Joaquín Blake
Strength
13,000	24,000
Casualties and losses
300 killed or wounded 300 captured baggage train captured	50 killed or wounded

Peninsular war

200km
125miles

Corunna

14

13

12

11

10

9

Zaragoza

8

7

Somosierra

6

Tudela

5

4

3

Valmaseda

2

1

  

  current battle

The Battle of Valmaseda (or Balmaseda) took place on 5 November 1808, during Lieutenant-General Blake's retreat from superior French armies in northern Spain. Reinforced by veteran regular infantry from General La Romana's Division of the North (Spanish: Division del Norte), Blake's force suddenly turned on its pursuers and ambushed Marshal Victor's errant vanguard under Général de division Villatte.