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The Ontígola Action of 1809

Ontígola, Mesa de Ocaña, Toledo

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The Ontígola Action of 1809

Curiosity · Ontígola, Mesa de Ocaña, Toledo

Image of Ontígola, not of the place itself.

The action of Ontígola, which took place on 18 November 1809 on the eve of the Battle of Ocaña, was the largest cavalry engagement of the entire War of Independence: on the French side, eight regiments under the command of Paris and Milhaud crossed the Tajo at Aranjuez and met sixteen Spanish regiments under the command of the Duke of Rivas and March. The Spanish cavalry initially had the upper hand, but the better French tactical position forced its disorderly retreat as far as Ocaña. The Spanish troops withdrew to the town, while the French camped that night at Ontígola; the following day the decisive Battle of Ocaña would take place. The Spanish side suffered 80 prisoners and several hundred dead, among them, by mistake, Ángel de Saavedra, brother of the Duke.

Photo: Jebulon (CC0)

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