Battle of Salamanca

The Battle of Salamanca saw the Army of Portugal, commanded by Marmont, surprised and defeated by a skillful attack by Wellington. A false maneuver by Marmont exposed his left flank, which the Allies exploited with a decisive attack that broke the French lines.

After the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz, Wellington advanced into Old Castile. Marmont attempted to outflank his army but exposed himself too far. Wellington then attacked rapidly with his reserves, inflicting a heavy defeat on the French army.

Wellington detected a dangerous extension of the French line and launched a lightning attack on the left flank, still deploying. The French wing was crushed before the rest of the army could react effectively.

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.