Key Facts
- Duration
- 19 September – 21 October 1812
- Distance from Madrid
- 210 km (130 mi) north of Madrid
- Attacker
- Anglo-Portuguese Army under Wellington
- Defender
- French garrison under General Dubreton
- Result
- French defensive victory; Wellington withdrew
Strategic Narrative Overview
Wellington besieged the Castle of Burgos on 19 September 1812, but General Dubreton's garrison repulsed every British assault with a determined and skillful defense. Meanwhile, the combined armies of Marshal Soult and King Joseph Bonaparte advanced from the southeast toward Madrid, while a French relief army approached Burgos from the northeast, squeezing Wellington's forces from two directions and preventing him from concentrating sufficient strength to reduce the fortress.
01 / The Origins
Following his decisive victory over Marshal Marmont at the Battle of Salamanca in July 1812, Wellington advanced on Madrid, forcing King Joseph Bonaparte and Marshal Jourdan to flee to Valencia. Wellington sought to consolidate Allied gains by capturing Burgos, a strategically vital French supply base roughly 210 kilometres north of Madrid, hoping a swift success would neutralise the rebuilt French northern army and secure his hold on central Spain.
03 / The Outcome
Facing converging French relief armies and unable to take Burgos, Wellington abandoned the siege on 21 October 1812 and withdrew westward toward Portugal. The retreat forced the Allies to relinquish large areas of recently liberated Spain. Although French forces missed the opportunity to destroy Wellington's army outright, the Anglo-Portuguese troops suffered significant losses to French cavalry harassment and starvation during the withdrawal.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington.
Side B
1 belligerent
Jean-Louis Dubreton.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.