Juan Carlos de Aréizaga
Encyclopedia
Juan Carlos de Aréizaga was a Spanish general, who fought in the Peninsular War
.
In 1808 he was a retired colonel, residing in Pamplona
, where he made friends with a young Francisco Javier Mina
. After the outbreak of the Peninsular War, he moved to Zaragoza
, where he became a divisional commander under Joaquín Blake (1809). He also took part in the battle of Alcañiz (May 1809).
On 19 November 1809 he took the command of the newly established "Army of La Mancha", including 50,000 men. At the command of this unit, he suffered a crushing defeat against the French at the battle of Ocana
In the late 1809 he was charged of the defense of the Andalusia
n passes. Aréizaga however was not able to stop the French invasion, and most of his forces were disbanded at Jaén
(January 1810). He was subsequently replaced by general Freire.
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
.
In 1808 he was a retired colonel, residing in Pamplona
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
, where he made friends with a young Francisco Javier Mina
Francisco Javier Mina
Francisco Javier Mina was a Spanish lawyer and army officer and a Mexican revolutionary.-Biography:...
. After the outbreak of the Peninsular War, he moved to Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
, where he became a divisional commander under Joaquín Blake (1809). He also took part in the battle of Alcañiz (May 1809).
On 19 November 1809 he took the command of the newly established "Army of La Mancha", including 50,000 men. At the command of this unit, he suffered a crushing defeat against the French at the battle of Ocana
Battle of Ocana
The Battle of Ocana or Battle of Ocaña was fought on 19 November 1809 between French forces under Marshal Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult and King Joseph Bonaparte and the Spanish army under Juan Carlos de Aréizaga, which suffered its greatest single defeat in the Peninsular War...
In the late 1809 he was charged of the defense of the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
n passes. Aréizaga however was not able to stop the French invasion, and most of his forces were disbanded at Jaén
Jaén, Spain
Jaén is a city in south-central Spain, the name is derived from the Arabic word Jayyan, . It is the capital of the province of Jaén. It is located in the autonomous community of Andalusia....
(January 1810). He was subsequently replaced by general Freire.