Battle of Bailén
In June 1808, Napoleon dispatched Divisional-General Pierre Dupont de l'Étang south toward Seville with 13,000 men. This force consisted primarily of second-line troops originally raised for internal police services or garrison duty in Prussia. The Emperor viewed the Spanish campaign as a mere promenade and expected to crush any opposition easily. Dupont's corps approached Córdoba in early June and captured the bridge at Alcolea on their first formal battle on Andalusian soil. They swept past Spanish troops under Colonel Pedro de Echávarri that attempted to block their progress. The French entered Córdoba that same afternoon and ransacked the town for four days.
General Francisco Javier Castaños organized the Army of Andalusia into four divisions after learning of the French incursion. These included units under Generals Theodor von Reding, Antonio Malet, Marquis of Coupigny, and Manuel Lapeña. Castaños set up a general headquarters in Utrera and prepared to entrench his army across from Cádiz. However, Dupont's retrograde movement rendered these precautions unnecessary. Between 16 and the 19th of July, Spanish forces converged on the French positions stretched out along villages on the Guadalquivir river. They attacked at several points, forcing the confused French defenders to permanently reposition and re-organize their troops. General Reding successfully crossed the river at Mengíbar and seized Bailén, interposing himself between the two wings of the French army.
Dupont attempted to break through the Spanish line at Bailén in three bloody and desperate charges over three days. His men suffered 2,000 casualties, including himself wounded in the hip during the final assault. Brigadier Théodore Chabert led an infantry brigade and horse chasseurs against the left wing held by the Walloon Guards but gained no ground. Claude Francois Duprès fell mortally wounded at the head of his troops while leading another attack. Capitaine de Vaisseau Daugier's Sailors of the Imperial Guard were the only Old Guard troops present. These three hundred men pierced the first Spanish lines before being forced back down the slope for the third time under heavy artillery fire. The day was lost when Castaños' force finally arrived, overtaking Barbou along the Rumblar tributary.
Dupont agreed to surrender not only his own forces but also Vedel's division even though those troops were outside the Spanish encirclement with a good chance of escape. A total of 17,000 men were captured, making Bailén the worst defeat suffered by the French in the entire Peninsular War. Under the surrender terms, the men were supposed to be repatriated to France via Cádiz. However, the Spanish did not honor these terms and transferred them instead to the island of Cabrera. Dupont handed his sword to Castaños and exclaimed that he had never lost a pitched battle until now. The Spaniard replied that it was remarkable because he had never been in one before in his life.
The rank and file prisoners were sent to the Canary and Balearic Islands where inhabitants protested at their proximity. Consequently, 7,000 prisoners were put on the uninhabited island of Cabrera. The Spanish government could barely supply its own armies in the field and was unable to properly take care of the prisoners. Cannibalism was alleged to have occurred during times when supply ships failed to arrive. On the 6th of July 1814, fewer than half of the remaining survivors returned to France after six years of captivity. Most perished from starvation while many others never recovered their health after the experience.
News of the catastrophe reached Joseph Bonaparte's court in Madrid and resulted in a general retreat to the Ebro river. France's enemies throughout Europe celebrated this first major defeat inflicted on the hitherto unbeaten French Imperial Army. Spain was overjoyed, Britain exultant, France dismayed, and Napoleon outraged. Tales of Spanish heroism inspired Austria and showed the force of nationwide resistance to Napoleon. This event set in motion the rise of the Fifth Coalition against France. The Seville Junta instituted the Medalla de Bailén to commemorate a victory so rich in symbolic and propaganda value.
Dupont and Vedel returned to Paris in disgrace and were duly court-martialed, deprived of rank and title, and imprisoned at Fort de Joux. Dupont was not paroled until the restoration of Louis XVIII, with rumors persisting that he had been quietly assassinated in captivity. In January 1809, the Emperor halted a parade in Valladolid when he recognized Dupont's chief of staff among the commanders. He scolded the officer in full view of the troops and ordered him off the square. An Imperial decree dated the 1st of May 1812 prohibited any field commander from treating for capitulation and declared every unauthorized surrender a criminal act punishable by death. Napoleon began his tirade by asking if their hand did not wither up when they signed that infamous capitulation.
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Common questions
Who commanded the French forces at the Battle of Bailén in 1808?
Divisional-General Pierre Dupont de l'Étang commanded the French forces during the Battle of Bailén. He led a corps of 13,000 men consisting primarily of second-line troops originally raised for internal police services or garrison duty in Prussia.
When did the Battle of Bailén take place and how many days did it last?
The main fighting occurred between the 16th and the 19th of July 1808 over three bloody days. General Reding crossed the river at Mengíbar on this timeline to seize Bailén and interpose himself between the two wings of the French army.
How many French soldiers were captured after the surrender at Bailén?
A total of 17,000 men were captured when Dupont agreed to surrender his own forces and Vedel's division. This figure represents the worst defeat suffered by the French in the entire Peninsular War.
Where were the French prisoners sent after the Spanish government failed to honor the initial surrender terms?
The Spanish transferred 7,000 prisoners to the uninhabited island of Cabrera because they could barely supply their own armies in the field. The rank and file prisoners were also sent to the Canary and Balearic Islands where inhabitants protested at their proximity.
What happened to Pierre Dupont de l'Étang after he returned to Paris following the battle?
Dupont was court-martialed, deprived of rank and title, and imprisoned at Fort de Joux upon returning to Paris. He was not paroled until the restoration of Louis XVIII with rumors persisting that he had been quietly assassinated in captivity.