The Battle of Saragossa: Austria and Spain Clash in a Pivotal Conflict During the War of Spanish Succession
The Battle of Saragossa, fought on August 20, 1710, during the War of the Spanish Succession, was a decisive engagement between a multinational army led by the Austrian commander Guido Starhemberg and the Spanish-Bourbon forces under the command of Alexandre Maître, Marquis de Bay. This battle, significant in the broader context of the war, was instrumental in shaping the outcome of the conflict in Spain, affecting the succession to the Spanish throne and the balance of power in Europe.
The War of the Spanish Succession: Background and Context
To understand the Battle of Saragossa, it is essential to grasp the wider context of the War of the Spanish Succession, a conflict that had its roots in the dynastic and geopolitical tensions of early 18th-century Europe. The war was triggered by the death of the childless King Charles II of Spain in 1700, which left the Spanish throne without a direct heir. Spain was one of the most powerful empires in Europe at the time, with vast overseas territories in the Americas, Asia, and Europe, and the question of who would inherit this vast empire became a critical issue.
Before his death, Charles II had named his grand-nephew, Philip, Duke of Anjou and grandson of King Louis XIV of France, as his successor. This decision was intended to prevent the fragmentation of the Spanish Empire, but it alarmed many European powers, particularly England, the Dutch Republic, and Austria, which feared that the union of the French and Spanish crowns would shift the balance of power too heavily in favor of the Bourbon dynasty. As a result, a coalition of European powers, including Austria, England, the Dutch Republic, and Portugal, formed an alliance known as the Grand Alliance to oppose Philip’s accession to the Spanish throne and to support the Habsburg candidate, Archduke Charles, as the rightful heir.
The War of the Spanish Succession officially began in 1701, and it quickly spread across Europe and beyond, involving multiple theaters of conflict, including Italy, the Low Countries, and Spain itself. The war was not just about the succession to the Spanish throne; it was also about the broader balance of power in Europe, colonial ambitions, and the rivalry between the Bourbon and Habsburg dynasties.
The Spanish Theater of War
In the Spanish theater of war, the conflict was primarily a struggle between the supporters of Philip V, the Bourbon claimant to the throne, and the supporters of Archduke Charles, the Habsburg claimant. Spain was deeply divided along regional and political lines, with different parts of the country aligning themselves with either the Bourbon or Habsburg factions. The Castilian heartland largely supported Philip V, while the Crown of Aragon, which included the regions of Catalonia, Valencia, and Aragon, was more sympathetic to Archduke Charles.
The war in Spain was characterized by a series of sieges, battles, and shifting alliances, with control of key cities and regions changing hands multiple times over the course of the conflict. By 1710, the war had been raging for nearly a decade, and both sides were exhausted. However, the outcome was still uncertain, and both the Bourbon and Habsburg factions were determined to secure a decisive victory that would tip the balance in their favor.
The Prelude to the Battle of Saragossa
The events leading up to the Battle of Saragossa in 1710 were shaped by the broader strategic situation in Spain. In the early years of the war, the Bourbon forces, led by Philip V and his French allies, had gained the upper hand, securing key victories and consolidating their control over much of Spain. However, the Habsburg forces, supported by the Grand Alliance, had not given up, and they continued to launch offensives in an attempt to break Bourbon control.
In the spring of 1710, the multinational army of the Grand Alliance, composed of Austrian, British, Dutch, Portuguese, and Catalan troops, began a new campaign to push the Bourbon forces out of Aragon and Catalonia. The campaign was led by two capable commanders: Guido Starhemberg, an experienced Austrian general, and James Stanhope, a British commander who had been instrumental in previous victories in Spain. Their combined forces sought to capture the key city of Saragossa, which was strategically located in the Kingdom of Aragon and was a critical stronghold for the Bourbon forces.
At the same time, the Bourbon forces, under the command of Alexandre Maître, Marquis de Bay, were determined to defend Saragossa and maintain their control over the region. The Marquis de Bay was a seasoned French commander who had been appointed as commander-in-chief of the Bourbon forces in Spain after the death of his predecessor. He had gained a reputation for his tactical acumen and his ability to inspire his troops, but he faced significant challenges in defending Saragossa against the superior numbers and resources of the Grand Alliance.
The Battle of Saragossa: August 20, 1710
The Battle of Saragossa took place on August 20, 1710, on the plains outside the city. The Grand Alliance army, numbering around 30,000 troops, was a diverse force composed of soldiers from different nations and backgrounds, united by their common goal of defeating the Bourbon forces and securing the Habsburg claim to the Spanish throne. The Bourbon army, though smaller in number with around 20,000 troops, was determined to defend Saragossa and prevent the Grand Alliance from gaining control of Aragon.
The battle began with a series of artillery exchanges between the two armies, as both sides sought to weaken their opponents before launching their main assaults. The terrain around Saragossa was flat and open, which made it difficult for either side to gain a significant tactical advantage through the use of terrain features. As a result, the battle quickly devolved into a brutal and bloody engagement, with both sides launching repeated attacks and counterattacks.
The Grand Alliance forces, under the leadership of Guido Starhemberg and James Stanhope, initially gained the upper hand. Their superior numbers and well-coordinated assaults began to push the Bourbon forces back, forcing them to retreat towards the city of Saragossa. Starhemberg’s disciplined Austrian troops played a key role in this phase of the battle, using their experience and training to maintain pressure on the Bourbon forces and prevent them from regrouping.
However, the Bourbon forces, under the command of the Marquis de Bay, were not easily defeated. De Bay, recognizing the gravity of the situation, rallied his troops and launched a fierce counterattack. The Bourbon cavalry, in particular, played a crucial role in this counteroffensive, charging into the ranks of the Grand Alliance forces and causing significant casualties. For a brief moment, it seemed as though the Bourbon forces might be able to turn the tide of the battle in their favor.
Despite this spirited resistance, the Grand Alliance forces ultimately proved too strong for the Bourbon army. After several hours of intense fighting, the Bourbon forces began to break under the sustained pressure of the Grand Alliance assaults. As their lines collapsed, the Bourbon troops began to retreat in disarray, abandoning their positions and fleeing towards Saragossa. The Marquis de Bay, recognizing that the battle was lost, ordered a general retreat to avoid further casualties and to preserve what remained of his army.
The Grand Alliance forces, having secured a decisive victory, pursued the retreating Bourbon troops and entered Saragossa shortly after the battle. The capture of the city marked a significant turning point in the war in Spain, as it allowed the Grand Alliance to consolidate their control over Aragon and Catalonia and to threaten Bourbon positions further to the south.
The Aftermath of the Battle of Saragossa
The Battle of Saragossa had far-reaching consequences for both sides in the War of the Spanish Succession. For the Grand Alliance, the victory was a major strategic triumph that bolstered their position in Spain and gave them control over a key region of the country. It also demonstrated the effectiveness of the multinational forces under the leadership of Starhemberg and Stanhope, who had worked together to secure a decisive victory against the Bourbon forces.
The capture of Saragossa also had significant political implications. The city was a major stronghold for the Bourbon faction, and its loss weakened the legitimacy of Philip V’s claim to the Spanish throne. The victory at Saragossa gave renewed hope to the supporters of Archduke Charles and boosted the morale of the Habsburg forces in Spain. It also helped to solidify the alliance between the various factions within the Grand Alliance, as the victory demonstrated that their combined efforts could achieve tangible results on the battlefield.
For the Bourbon forces, the defeat at Saragossa was a major setback. The loss of the city and the surrounding region dealt a blow to Philip V’s efforts to consolidate his control over Spain, and it exposed the weaknesses in the Bourbon military strategy. The Marquis de Bay, though respected for his leadership and tactical skills, was unable to prevent the defeat, and his reputation suffered as a result. The Bourbon forces were forced to regroup and retreat to the south, leaving much of Aragon and Catalonia under the control of the Grand Alliance.
Despite the victory at Saragossa, the war in Spain was far from over. The Bourbon forces, though weakened, remained a formidable opponent, and they continued to resist the efforts of the Grand Alliance to secure control over the country. The war would drag on for several more years, with both sides experiencing victories and defeats as they vied for control of Spain.
The End of the War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession ultimately came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. The treaty brought about a compromise that resolved the issue of the Spanish succession and reshaped the political landscape of Europe. Under the terms of the treaty, Philip V was recognized as the legitimate king of Spain, but he was forced to renounce any claim to the French throne, thereby preventing the union of the Spanish and French crowns. In return, the Habsburgs were granted control over several Spanish territories in Europe, including the Spanish Netherlands, Naples, Milan, and Sardinia.
The Treaty of Utrecht marked the end of the War of the Spanish Succession and brought about a new balance of power in Europe. While the Bourbon dynasty retained control of Spain, the Habsburgs were able to expand their influence in other parts of Europe, and the threat of a Franco-Spanish superpower was averted. The war had been long and costly for all sides, but the settlement reached at Utrecht helped to bring about a period of relative peace and stability in Europe.
Conclusion
The Battle of Saragossa, fought on August 20, 1710, was a pivotal moment in the War of the Spanish Succession. It was a battle that demonstrated the determination and skill of the multinational forces of the Grand Alliance, as well as the resilience of the Bourbon forces defending their claim to the Spanish throne. Though the battle did not immediately end the war, it was a significant victory for the Habsburg faction and helped to shape the course of the conflict in Spain.
The war itself was a complex and multifaceted struggle that had far-reaching consequences for the future of Europe. The Treaty of Utrecht, which brought the war to an end, established a new balance of power and helped to prevent the unification of the French and Spanish crowns, thereby preserving the independence of the European states. The Battle of Saragossa stands as a testament to the courage and determination of the soldiers who fought in the war, as well as the strategic importance of the conflict in shaping the future of the continent.
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