Battle of Salamanca
Spanish War of Independence · Los Arapiles, near Salamanca, Spain
Summary
On 22 July 1812 near Salamanca in Spain, Wellington inflicted decisive defeat on Marshal Marmont. Exploiting a gap in French deployment, Wellington launched a pincer attack that broke the French army in two hours. French lost about 14,000 men and 40 guns; Marmont was gravely wounded.
Historical context
Wellington besieged Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz (1812) to open routes into Spain's interior. Marmont, Masséna's successor, maneuvered against Wellington without giving decisive battle. At Salamanca both armies deployed in parallel on heights; a French deployment error offered Wellington an opportunity for envelopment.
Tactics
Wellington spotted the French flank was 'overextended' and ordered concentrated attack on the enemy center-right. Pakenham's and Leith's divisions broke Bonnet's and Maucune's divisions; British cavalry exploited the gap. Marmont, wounded by shell fragment, was evacuated; Clausel took command but could not restore the situation.
Consequences
Marmont's army retreated in disorder northward. Wellington entered Madrid on 12 August. This major victory restored strategic initiative to the Allies in Spain. It also marked the beginning of a progressive but irreversible French withdrawal from the peninsula.