Battle of Almenar (1710)

The Battle of Almenar ( Spanish: Batalla de Almenar ) is a battle that took place on July 27, 1710 near the city of Almenar between the Spanish troops of Philip V on the one hand and the troops of the Holy Roman Empire , Great Britain and the United Provinces on the other. In this battle, the Spaniards were defeated and forced to retreat from Catalonia .

Battle of Almenar
Main Conflict: Spanish Inheritance
date	July 27, 1710
A place	Almenar , Spain
Opponents
Spain Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Great Britain Republic of the United Provinces
Commanders
Francisco del Castillo y Fajardo Guido von Staremberg , James Stanhope
Forces of the parties
22,000 24,000
Losses
1,000 killed, 3,000 captured 400 dead

In the spring of 1710, the Spanish army entered Catalonia through Aragon . On May 3, Philip V joined the army. They were opposed by an allied army of Austrian, English and Dutch troops. In July, the army’s general Guido von Staremberg received reinforcements and decided to attack the Spaniards. He took up a position on the heights of Almenar . On July 27, the troops of yet another General of the Allied Army, James Stanhope , arrived.

At the beginning of the battle, the Spanish general Francisco del Castillo y Fajardo sent forward the cavalry, which at first successfully attacked the enemy, but then lost the initiative, starting the pursuit of groups of running enemies.

Then the British infantry attacked the left wing of the Spanish army, whose soldiers fled the battlefield, dragging along the second line. Then the Austrian troops attacked the right wing of the Spaniards, almost capturing Philip V.

Spanish troops were forced to retreat from the battlefield and leave Catalonia. They headed to Aragon, where on August 20 they were defeated at Zaragoza .

After the troops under his command were defeated at Almenar, Francisco del Castillo y Fajardo was removed from command.