We explain what the Battle of Puebla was and which sides fought it. In addition, we explain its characteristics, consequences and more.
The Battle of Puebla was fought between Mexican and French troops on May 5, 1862.
What was the Battle of Puebla?
The Battle of Puebla It was an armed confrontation that occurred on May 5, 1862. in the vicinity of the city of Puebla, Mexico, between the army of the Mexican Republic, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, and the army of the French Empire, led by General Charles Ferdinand Latrille, Count of Lorencez.
This fight It was part of the Second French intervention in Mexicowhich was the invasion of Mexican territory by French troops, initially motivated by the suspension of payment of the foreign debt announced by the liberal government of Benito Juárez.
The battle It occurred almost at the beginning of the conflict and its result was a triumph for the Mexicanswho won despite being outnumbered. However, the invasion continued its course and it was not until 1867 that the French were finally expelled from Mexico. Today, the battle is commemorated in Mexico every May 5th.
Causes of the Battle of Puebla
After the Mexican civil war known as the Reform War (1858-1861), the victorious liberals had to face a shortage of resources. President Benito Juárez decreed that he would not pay the foreign debt and this motivated the governments of France, Great Britain and Spain to sign the London Convention by which they agreed to invade Mexican territory to pressure the government.
Juárez sought an understanding with the European powers: repealed the decree that suspended debt payment and announced that it would restart payments when the situation permitted (this commitment was the basis of the Treaties of La Soledad). The Spanish and English troops gave up their invasion plan, but the French Empire of Napoleon III decided to persist in its project to occupy the country.
A French contingent arrived on the coast of Veracruz on March 5, 1862.. In April the European alliance concluded, because the other two powers understood that the French Empire had a plan to occupy Mexico. This plan contemplated the establishment of a Mexican monarchy subordinated to France that would put a stop to English expansionism and strengthen the French government.
Mexican conservatives also advocated a monarchy and had convinced the French government that they would have the support necessary to carry out the plan. For this reason, at the end of April The French army advanced towards Pueblawith the intention of then heading to Mexico City.
The opposing armies
The French army was made up of well-trained and experienced soldiers.
The armies that faced each other in the battle of Puebla were:
The Mexican Army of the East
The Mexican Eastern Army responded to the Republican government and was composed of around 4000 menmost of them without much military training. Among their ranks were veterans of the Reform War, militiamen and armed civilians from Puebla and other states, and a group of indigenous people from the region, especially Zacapoaxtlas, who formed the 6th Battalion of the National Guard of Puebla.
The Army of the East was led by General Ignacio Zaragozaand among the troop commanders stood out Miguel Negrete (who successfully led the defense of the forts in the north of the city) and Porfirio Díaz (whose good military performance earned him a prestige that he knew how to take advantage of politically years later). In addition to open combat, the Mexican contingents frequently resorted to guerrilla tactics to confront the numerical superiority of the French.
The French Army
The French army was made up of around 6000 soldiers highly trained and experienced, most integrated into infantry corps. Among them was a regiment of Zouaves, an important component of the armed forces of the French Empire.
Besides, had the support of conservative Mexican military who aspired to establish a monarchy instead of a republic. Their commander was General Charles Ferdinand Latrille, Count of Lorencez.
The Battle of the Summits
The French were confident of victory due to their impeccable military performance.
The battle of Puebla was the second confrontation between the liberal Mexican forces and the troops of the Count of Lorencez since they landed in Veracruz. The first was the battle of the Summits, which It took place on April 28, 1862 in a mountain pass in the peaks of Acultzingobetween the states of Veracruz and Puebla.
French troops marched towards Pueblaconfident of victory due to their impeccable battle record (they had not been defeated since the Battle of Waterloo, 50 years earlier) and due to the general weakness of Mexico, which suffered the consequences of 50 years of civil wars.
At the peaks of Acultzingo, Mexican troops led by Ignacio Zaragoza They temporarily cut off the French, which caused a series of skirmishes between both armies. Eventually, the Mexican army retreated to Puebla, where it planned to resist the French forces who crossed the mountain pass and continued their march.
Preparations for the battle of Puebla
The defense organized by General Zaragoza in Puebla consisted of fortify the city against the imminent French attack, especially the southern, eastern and northern fronts. A barracks was set up a few meters from the battle front and the Mexican troops (which received the name of the Army of the East) prepared to repel the invaders before they reached the urban area.
Two artillery batteries and 1,200 men defended the Guadalupe and Loreto forts, located on two hills north of the city, while 3,500 infantry soldiers and a cavalry brigade They were distributed in different defensive positions. One of them was commanded by Porfirio Díaz, future president of Mexico.
The French left Amozoc towards Puebla and divided their troops: a first column of around 4000 men, protected by artillery, advanced on the forts, in which the Mexican army was stronger; the remaining column remained in reserve. The battle began at 11:15 on the morning of May 5.
The battle
The French were repelled and had to take refuge in the Los Álamos estate.
The Count of Lorencez decided to attack the forts Guadalupe and Loretodespite having been advised to advance on another flank. This decision, based on his confidence in French superiority, had serious consequences, since the forts formed the best Mexican defensive position.
The attack of Lorencez’s troops was repelled by Mexican infantry, artillery and cavalry. Unable to take the forts, Lorencez ordered a final assault when victory was already in sight for the Mexicans. He employed the rest of his forces, with the exception of a regiment guarding the rear.
The sappers of San Luis de Potosí, led by General Francisco Lamadrid, confronted them on the slopes of the Guadalupe hill. A battalion commanded by Porfirio Díaz also intervened in the defense.
That afternoon a downpour fell, making the advance of the French even more difficult. After being repelled, they were pursued by the Mexican cavalry and retreated to the Los Álamos ranch, from where they retreated towards Amozoc. The battle officially ended at 5:49 p.m..
Deaths in the Battle of Puebla
At the end of the battle, which lasted from 11:15 in the morning until 5:49 in the afternoon, 83 dead, 132 wounded and 12 missing from the Mexican side were counted.. The French side, on the other hand, counted 172 dead or missing and 304 wounded. In any case, these numbers are not certain, since the documents offer different figures that are difficult to corroborate.
The human cost of the battle was greatest for the Frenchwho were forced to withdraw and had to wait for reinforcements from France before attempting an assault on Puebla again.
Consequences of the Battle of Puebla
Juárez renamed the city Puebla de Zaragoza in honor of Ignacio Zaragoza.
The French army retreated to San Agustín del Palmar. The Count of Lorencez returned to France and was replaced by Élie-Frédéric Forey in command of the French troops in Mexico, who had to wait for reinforcements.
The defeat of the French army (considered at that time the best in the world) by an impoverished country in America, It generated reactions of hysteria and bewilderment in Europe. Rumors sometimes reached France about supposedly savage aborigines who murdered the empire’s soldiers and devoured their corpses.
In the Mexican ranks, the victory was important but temporary. General Zaragoza died of typhus in September 1862., still quartered in Puebla, which meant a significant loss for the Mexican army. In recognition of his role in the first defense of Puebla, Benito Juárez renamed the city “Puebla de Zaragoza.”
Just a year later, French General Forey managed to take Puebla after two months of Mexican resistance and cleared the way to Mexico City. The result was the establishment of the Second Mexican Empire and the continuation of hostilities between the Mexicans loyal to the republic and the French allied with the monarchist Mexicans.
Second Battle of Puebla
Between March 16 and May 17, 1863 The French troops returned to Puebla and laid siege to it for 62 days. Zaragoza had died of typhus in September of the previous year, so the defence of the city fell to General Jesús González Ortega, the new commander of the Army of the East. The leader of the French army was General Élie-Frédéric Forey.
On this occasion, The victory went to the French, who took Puebla and then advanced towards Mexico City. The objective was to overthrow the constitutional government and establish the Second Mexican Empire, so in June a Higher Government Board was created, made up of Mexican politicians who were in favour of the monarchy.
One year later Maximilian of Habsburg took over as Emperor of Mexico, Archduke of Austria. The war continued until the Republican victory and the expulsion of the French in 1867.
Cinco de Mayo Celebration
The Battle of Puebla, along with the Grito de Dolores that began Mexican independence, It is one of the national holidays of the Mexican traditionCinco de Mayo is celebrated in commemoration of the battle that took place on May 5, 1862.
It is considered a date representative of national triumph against a foreign power and the power of the Mexican nation once internal political differences have been overcome. In the United States, “Cinco de Mayo” is celebrated as a commemorative date of the…