Battle of Torroella
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Torroella, also known as Battle of the river Ter, was a battle in the Nine Years' War, fought on 27 May 1694 along the banks and fords of the Ter River
near the Puente Mayor in the vicinity of the important town of Girona
, Catalonia
, Spain.
, and put Catinat
's army in Piedmont
on the defensive, reserving more troops to the Spanish front.
The viceroy of Catalonia, don Juan Manuel Lopez Pacheco Acuña Giron y Portocarrero, marquis of Villena
duke of Escalona, who was also the Captain General of the army, had deployed along the banks of the river Ter practically all the marching troops he could muster to oppose the strong French expeditionary corps, led by the French Marshal duke of Noailles
, who wanted to capture Gerona.
The two armies were approximately of the same force (20,000 foot and 4-5,000 horse). The French regiments were composed mostly of veteran troops, while the Spanish forces had a very large number of recruits and newly constituted units never tested on the field.
Furthermore the French army was superior in the number of artillery pieces and fire-power, served by good trained officers and crews.
The previous days the enemies attempted with no success to force the fording at Verges
, and then moved to Ullà
and Torroella de Montgri
. On 27 May a dense fog hung over the banks of the river; taking profit of this 2,000 French dragoons and cavalry , followed by a large number of infantry grenadiers, passed unaccounted the river at Torroella de Montgri, and charged portion of the Spanish infantry that were at the position and were not entrenched and had been battered by the French artillery from the other side of the river.
After the first discharge of their muskets the Spaniards could not oppose effectively the oncoming enemies, they started to flee from the battle camp putting into disorder the remaining of the army; many were killed while they could not effectively oppose the French : while the remaining of the cavalry withdrew leaving all the infantry without protection. At the notice of this defeat and because a large number of French troops had forded the river and were now positioned in order of battle, the whole Spanish army fell in confusion and the cavalry fled together with the rearguard until reaching Girona.
The French made a general advance against the Spaniards, with little opposition, killing many soldiers and capturing baggage and artillery pieces, beside a large number of standards.
In this situation the viceroy had no other choice than sending some troops to Girona and marched with the largest part of his army towards Barcelona
, where he remained the whole month of June. In the meanwhile the French sacked over 10 villages in the surroundings of the river Ter.
On 30 May, three days after the Spanish defeat at the river Ter, Noailles started the blocquade by land and sea of the fortress of Palamos
, that surrendered to the French on 10 June. The city of Girona was taken on 29 June.
Barcelona was saved by the French minister of war who reduced the money to the Marshal of Noailles and immobilised his army.
Another factor was the approach of an English fleet under Edward Russell
which made the supporting French fleet under Tourville
retreat to Toulon
.
Ter River
The Ter is a river in Catalonia that rises in Ulldeter at an approximate altitude of 2400 meters, at the foot of a glacial cirque delimited by the nearby peaks of el Bastiments, el Gra de Fajol, or el Pic de la Dona...
near the Puente Mayor in the vicinity of the important town of Girona
Girona
Girona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, with an official population of 96,236 in January 2009. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain.
Prelude
In the year 1694 the French king decided to make an effort in CataloniaCatalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, and put Catinat
Nicolas Catinat
Nicolas Catinat was a French military commander and Marshal of France under Louis XIV. The son of a magistrate, Catinat was born in Paris on 1 September 1637...
's army in Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
on the defensive, reserving more troops to the Spanish front.
The viceroy of Catalonia, don Juan Manuel Lopez Pacheco Acuña Giron y Portocarrero, marquis of Villena
Villena
Villena is a city in Spain, in the Valencian Community. It is located at the northwest part of Alicante, and borders to the west with Castilla-La Mancha and Murcia, to the north with the province of Valencia and to the east and south with the province of Alicante. It is the capital of the comarca...
duke of Escalona, who was also the Captain General of the army, had deployed along the banks of the river Ter practically all the marching troops he could muster to oppose the strong French expeditionary corps, led by the French Marshal duke of Noailles
Anne-Jules, 2nd duc de Noailles
Anne Jules de Noailles, 2th Duke of Noailles was one of the chief generals of France towards the end of the reign of Louis XIV, and, after raising the regiment of Noailles in 1689, he commanded in Spain during both the War of the Grand Alliance and the War of the Spanish Succession, and was made...
, who wanted to capture Gerona.
The two armies were approximately of the same force (20,000 foot and 4-5,000 horse). The French regiments were composed mostly of veteran troops, while the Spanish forces had a very large number of recruits and newly constituted units never tested on the field.
Furthermore the French army was superior in the number of artillery pieces and fire-power, served by good trained officers and crews.
The battle
The Spanish army was divided into three corps for guarding the fords at Verges, Ullà and Torroella. According to the Spanish viceroy "all our army was constituted by 11,900 foot and 4,000 horse which all included make the number of 16,300".The previous days the enemies attempted with no success to force the fording at Verges
Verges
Verges may refer to:* Bruno Verges , rugby league player* Verges, Catalonia, Spain* Verges, Jura, France* Verges, a character in William Shakepeare's play Much Ado About Nothing- See also :...
, and then moved to Ullà
Ullà
Ullà is a village in the province of Girona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.-References:...
and Torroella de Montgri
Torroella de Montgrí
Torroella de Montgrí is a small town in Catalonia, on the north bank of the Ter river.-Features:The town is 22 km east of Girona and 5 km west of the resort of L'Estartit...
. On 27 May a dense fog hung over the banks of the river; taking profit of this 2,000 French dragoons and cavalry , followed by a large number of infantry grenadiers, passed unaccounted the river at Torroella de Montgri, and charged portion of the Spanish infantry that were at the position and were not entrenched and had been battered by the French artillery from the other side of the river.
After the first discharge of their muskets the Spaniards could not oppose effectively the oncoming enemies, they started to flee from the battle camp putting into disorder the remaining of the army; many were killed while they could not effectively oppose the French : while the remaining of the cavalry withdrew leaving all the infantry without protection. At the notice of this defeat and because a large number of French troops had forded the river and were now positioned in order of battle, the whole Spanish army fell in confusion and the cavalry fled together with the rearguard until reaching Girona.
The French made a general advance against the Spaniards, with little opposition, killing many soldiers and capturing baggage and artillery pieces, beside a large number of standards.
Aftermath
According to the official version the Spaniards lost 2,931 foot and 324 horse, among dead, wounded and desertors. According to French sources Spanish losses exceeded 9,000 men including 2,000 prisoners, while their own losses amounted to about 500 .In this situation the viceroy had no other choice than sending some troops to Girona and marched with the largest part of his army towards Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, where he remained the whole month of June. In the meanwhile the French sacked over 10 villages in the surroundings of the river Ter.
On 30 May, three days after the Spanish defeat at the river Ter, Noailles started the blocquade by land and sea of the fortress of Palamos
Palamós
Palamós is a town and municipality in the Mediterranean Costa Brava, located in the comarca of Baix Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain....
, that surrendered to the French on 10 June. The city of Girona was taken on 29 June.
Barcelona was saved by the French minister of war who reduced the money to the Marshal of Noailles and immobilised his army.
Another factor was the approach of an English fleet under Edward Russell
Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford
Admiral of the Fleet Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford, PC was the First Lord of the Admiralty under King William III.-Naval career:...
which made the supporting French fleet under Tourville
Anne Hilarion de Tourville
Anne Hilarion de Costentin, comte de Tourville was a French naval commander who served under King Louis XIV. He was made Marshal of France in 1693.-Military career:...
retreat to Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
.