Battle of Somosierra 1808 • Revolution & Empire
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Battle of Somosierra

Revolution & Empire French victory
Historical significance:

Summary

To open the road to Madrid, Napoleon ordered an attack on Spanish redoubts defending the Somosierra pass. After several unsuccessful infantry assaults, he ordered a bold charge by the Polish Guard chasseurs. They broke enemy lines, captured the guns, and forced the Spanish to retreat. The road to the capital was cleared.

Historical context

Napoleon advanced rapidly on Madrid, but the Somosierra pass, a natural defensive choke point, was strongly held. The Spanish had placed batteries on the heights, arranged on several levels, to block the invasion.

Tactics

French infantry attempted to advance under fire from Spanish batteries positioned on high ground but was checked. Napoleon, impatient, ordered a frontal cavalry charge by the Polish Guard. In less than 15 minutes the four lines of Spanish guns were successively assaulted.

Consequences

The fall of Somosierra allowed Napoleon to enter Madrid a few days later, on 4 December 1808. The bravery of the Polish cavalry became legendary. Spanish failure to defend the pass precipitated the loss of the capital.

Location

Place : Somosierra Pass, Sierra de Guadarrama, Spain
Coordinates : 41.1058°N, 3.6206°W

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