Battle of Salamanca

A 1812 battle in Spain in which British, Portuguese, and Spanish forces under Wellington defeated a French army commanded by Marshal Marmont.

Douro River: A river flowing from north-central Spain through Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean. French movements across the Douro shaped the armies’ positions before the battle.
Peninsular War: The 1807–1814 conflict in the Iberian Peninsula between France and opposing Spanish, Portuguese, and British forces. Salamanca was a major Allied victory within this wider war.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington: British soldier and statesman who commanded Allied forces in the Peninsular War and defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. His timing and exploitation of the French flank determined the Allied victory.
Siege of Burgos: The 1812 Allied attempt to capture the French-held fortress of Burgos, which ended in retreat. Wellington’s failed advance after Salamanca showed the limits of the victory.
Salamanca: A city in western Spain known for its historic university and architectural heritage. The city gave the battle its name and lay near the fighting.
Marmont’s March: The French army’s maneuver west of Salamanca in July 1812, which stretched its line during pursuit of Wellington. The extended French flank gave Wellington an opening to attack.
Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo (1812): The January 1812 British-led capture of the French-held fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain. Its capture opened Wellington’s route into central Spain.
Auguste de Marmont: French marshal who commanded the Army of Portugal and was wounded at Salamanca. His attempt to outmaneuver Wellington exposed the French army’s divisions.
Battle of Vitoria: The 1813 Allied victory that drove Joseph Bonaparte’s army from Spain. Salamanca helped set up the later Allied advance toward Vitoria.
Arapil Grande: The larger of two hills near the Salamanca battlefield, occupied by French forces during the battle. Control of this hill formed part of the struggle over the battlefield’s high ground.

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Arthur WellesleyBroader topic: This victory opened Madrid to Wellington and demonstrated his skill at exploiting an enemy's mistake.