Clash of Steel
for Military History & Aviation enthusiasts

Translate this Page

Search :

Saragossa, the 2nd seige


Battle Name : Saragossa, the 2nd seige

Date(s) : 20 December 1808 - 20 February 1809

Part of : The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars , The Peninsular Campaign ,

Outcome : A victory for French Peninsular Army [Corps lll and V] over Spanish garrison & people of Saragossa

Type of battle : Land, Seige

Summary

The city of Saragossa, garrisoned by 60,000 Spanish soldiers, peasants, townsmen and clergy held out against a French beseiging force of lll Corps [Junot] and V Corps [Mortier] for 2 months before the city fell, bit by bit.
The taking of the city was marked by fierce house-to-house fighting. Every building was hard won against determined resistance, particulaly from the Spanish Monks.
Many of the buildings required sapping and mining, and vicious melees took place underground as sapping broke through into occupied cellars of counter-mining.

Location

The city of Saragossa, [now Zaragosa] on the river Ebro in Aragon,northern Spain. (Spain)

More details

The city of Saragossa, garrisoned by 60,000 Spanish soldiers, peasants, townsmen and clergy held out against a French beseiging force under General Lannes for 2 months before the city fell, bit by bit.

The taking of the city was marked by fierce house-to-house fighting. Every building was hard won against determined resistance, particulaly from the Spanish Monks.

Many of the buildings required sapping and mining, and vicious melees took place underground as sapping broke through into occupied cellars of counter-mining.

Casualty figures

Spanish garrison & people of Saragossa

Number engaged :
60,000

Casualties :
6,000 (10.00%)

French Peninsular Army [Corps lll and V]

Number engaged :
34,000

Casualties :
10,000 (29.41%)