Combat of Mesas de Ibor
{{short description|Minor battle of the Peninsular War}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Combat of Mesas de Ibor
| partof = the Peninsular War
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| date = 17 March 1809
| place = Mesas de Ibor, province of Cáceres (Extremadura)
| coordinates =
| result = French victory
| combatant1 =
| combatant2 =
| commander1 = Duke del Parque
| commander2 = Jean François Leval
| strength1 = ~5,000
| strength2 = ~3,000
| casualties1 = UnknownWhile some French sources refer to 1,000 casualties, Oman (1903) considers that figure unlikely, due to the mountainous terrain which would allow for defeated troops to scatter easily.
| casualties2 = 70 killed and 428 wounded
}}
The combat of Mesas de IborOman (1903) refers to it as Meza de Ibor. (17 March 1809) was a French victory during the Peninsular War at which the Spanish troops under General Duke del Parque were defeated by Leval's division, made up of German battalions.
Location
The battle took place in the ravine of the Ibor river, a tributary of the Tagus, near Mesas de Ibor, province of Cáceres (Extremadura).
Background
Much against his own wishes, General Victor, based at Salamanca, was forced to obey Napoleon's direct orders to advance on Extremadura. He therefore set off, on 14 March, at the head of a corps that numbered 15,000 infantry, and about 5,500 cavalry, together with sixty guns (with 1,600 artillerymen). His army was made up of Ruffin's division (nine battalions), Villatte's division (twelve battalions), Leval's division of eight battalions (plus the Westphalian Cavalry regiment of the 4th Corps that had been attached to his division). His other cavalry consisted of his own two regiments, together with Latour-Maubourg's six regiments of dragoons and three regiments of Lasalle's light cavalry.
The battle
Despite commanding a strong position, with six guns and 5,000 troops, on the heights of the other side of the ravine, Parque was forced to retreat, pushing his guns over the precipice, as Leval's eight German battalions, the vanguard of Victor's army, crossed the river and made their way up the sides of the ravine.Oman, Charles (1903). [https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/54279/pg54279-images.html#FNanchor_18 A History of the Peninsular War, Vol. II, pp. 150–153, Footnote 166.] Project Gutenberg. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
Outcome
Parque retreated to Cuesta's headquarters at Deleitosa.
See also
Notes
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References
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Category:Battles of the Peninsular War involving Spain