Battle of Villaviciosa

Battle of Villaviciosa
Part of the War of the Spanish Succession
Date December 10 , 1710 Location Villaviciosa de Tajuña, near Madrid, Spain Result Franco-Spanish stategic victory
Belligerents
France Spain	Austria
Commanders and leaders
Louis Joseph de Vendôme	Field Marshal Count Guido Starhemberg
Strength
20,000	12,000–14,000
Casualties and losses
2,000–3,000 dead or wounded	2,000–3,000 dead or wounded

The Battle of Villaviciosa took place on December 10, 1710 in the War of the Spanish Succession, one day after the Battle of Brihuega .

Prelude

After the victories in the battle of Almenara (July 27), and the battle of Saragossa (August 20), the allies supporting Archduke Charles conquered Madrid for the second time. On the 21st of September the archduke entered Madrid.

But the invasion of 1710 was a repetition of the invasion of 1706. The 23,000 men of the allies, reduced by a loss of 2,000 in the actions at Almenara and Saragossa, by casualties in constant skirmishes with the guerrilleros, and by disease, were absolutely incapable of occupying the two Castiles. The Portuguese gave no help.

The Spaniards were reorganized by the duke of Vendome, who was lent to Philip V, by his grandfather, and were joined by soldiers of the Irish brigade, and by some Frenchmen who were allowed, or secretly directed, to enter the Spanish service.

The position of the allies at Madrid, which was deserted by all except the poorest of its inhabitants, became untenable. On the 9th of November they evacuated the town, and began their retreat to Catalonia. The archduke left the army with 2,000 cavalry, and hurried back to Barcelona. The rest of the army marched in two detachments, the division being imposed on them by difficulty of finding food. General Guido Starhemberg with the main body of 12,000 men, was a day's march ahead of the British troops, 5,000 men, under Lord Stanhope. Such a disposition invited disaster in the presence of so capable a general as Vendome. The British force was surprised and defeated near Brihuega on december 9, 1710. The whole force was taken prisoner despite putting up a valiant fight.

The battle

Starhemberg, who received tardy information of the peril of his colleague, marched back to support him, and fought the obstinate and bloody fight of Villaviciosa. Starhemberg remained master of the field, but both sides claimed victory.

Aftermath

The fruits of victory fell to Vendome, for the Imperialist general was compelled to continue his retreat, harassed at every step by the Spanish cavalry and irregulars. His army was reduced to 6000 or 7000 men when he reached Barcelona on januari 6, almost the only place in Spain which still recognised the authority of Charles.

The battle for the Spanish trone was finally secured for Philip V, when archduke Charles left Spain in april 1711, to become Austrian emperor, after the death of his older brother.