Siege of Gerona (1809)

Siege of Girona
Part of the Peninsular War
The Great Day of Girona by Ramón Martí Alsina.
Date 6 May – 12 December 1809 Location Girona, Spain Result French victory The city capitulates Its defense inspires resistance elsewhere in the Peninsula
Belligerents
French Empire Kingdom of Westphalia	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Laurent de Gouvion St-Cyr Pierre Augereau	Mariano Alvarez de Castro (POW)
Strength
35,000 regulars 40 guns	5,600 regulars and militia
Casualties and losses
14,000 dead, wounded, or ill	5,000 dead 1,200 wounded 3,000 captured

French victory

The Third Siege of Girona refers to the French Grande Armée's seven-month siege of Girona, from 6 May to 12 December 1809, a significant event in the Peninsular War.

Some 18,000 French and Westphalian troops, commanded by General Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr during much of the siege, before Marshal Pierre Augereau took command on 12 October besieged the town, which held out under General Mariano Alvarez de Castro, in command of some 5,600 regular troops and militiamen, until disease and famine compelled it to capitulate on 12 December.

With Joseph Bonaparte having acceded to the throne of Spain in 1808, the following year, General Alvarez, commander of Montjuïc Castle in Barcelona, was ordered by his superiors to hand it over, despiting having been prepared to resist. Alvarez left Barcelona and joined the Spanish rebels against French rule. The Spanish Government in Cadiz named him commander of the Army of Catalonia and Governor of Girona, a city with a garrison of between 3,400–5,600 regular troops belonging to the Ultonia Regiment.

Taking command of the strategic city on 1 February 1809, he immediately started preparing its defence, requesting provisions for 7,000 men. On 1 April, he proclaimed his famous edict, to the effect that if the city were attacked, he would immediately execute anybody that mentioned surrender or capitulation. On 3 May, arms were distributed to 1717 volunteers.

At the beginning of May 1809, Saint-Cyr starting setting up the batteries and fortifications, mounting 40 gun batteries that over the next seven months fired some 20,000 explosive shells and 60,000 cannonballs into the city. On 12 June, Alvarez rejected the terms of truce offered, and General Saint-Cyr ordered bombardment to commence after midnight 13–14 June.

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