Battle of Vitoria

The Battle of Vitoria was fought on June 21 1813 during the Peninsular War, between 78,000 British, Portuguese and Spanish troops, with 96 guns, under the Marquis of Wellington, and 58,000 French with 153 guns under King Joseph Bonaparte and Marshal Jourdan.

Battle

Finally, Wellington launched his attack at Vitoria on June 21, in three columns. After hard fighting Thomas Picton's 3rd Division broke the enemy's centre and soon the French defence crumbled. Their retreat became a rout, with the losses of 8,000 killed or wounded and 2,000 prisoners, compared to Wellington's 4,500 killed or wounded. 152 guns were also taken in this battle that ended Napoleon's rule in Spain.

Related Topics:
Thomas Picton - Napoleon

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(Unfortunately, the British soldiers failed to pursue the fleeing French troops, preferring instead to plunder the abandoned French waggons, containing "the loot of a kingdom". It is estimated that over one million pounds of booty was seized, but the gross abandonment of discipline caused an enraged Wellington to write in his official dispatch that "the British soldier is the scum of the earth, enlisted for drink".)

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Order was soon restored, and by December, after detachments had seized San Sebastian and Pamplona, Wellington's army was encamped in France.

Related Topics:
San Sebastian - Pamplona

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The battle was the inspiration for Beethoven's Opus 91, often called the "Battle Symphony," or simply "Wellington's Victory", while portrays the battle in a form of a musical drama.

Related Topics:
Beethoven - Wellington's Victory

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