Benito de San Juan
Encyclopedia
Benito de San Juan was a Spanish
military officer and a notable commander of the Spanish forces during the Peninsular War
. He was the commanding officer of all the Spanish forces during the Battle of Somosierra
.
Benito de San Juan started his military career as a Lieutenant Colonel of Hussars of Estremadura
during the War of the Oranges
. Noted by Manuel Godoy, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and in 1802 he became the commander of Godoy's personal guard. Soon afterwards he was again promoted, this time to the rank of Brigadier
. In 1805 promoted to the rank of mariscal (in fact a general's grade), he became the general inspector of Spanish infantry and line cavalry
.
During the Peninsular War
he assumed the command over the major part of the Spanish forces defending Madrid
. Knowing the weakness of his forces, much inferior to the French army which was considered the best fighting force of its times, he prepared a plan of indirect defence of the Spanish capital by defending the Somosierra
pass on the road leading towards it. However, in the effect of the battle of Somosierra
he lost most of his artillery and his force was dispersed, while de San Juan himself was wounded several times during the charge of the Polish cavalry
.
He managed to withdraw with the remnants of his routed forces to Talavera
, where he attempted to rally his army. However, the demoralisation of the Spanish army, composed in a large part of untrained conscripts and peasant volunteers, led to a mutiny. On January 7, 1809 the mutineers captured their general and executed him.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
military officer and a notable commander of the Spanish forces during the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
. He was the commanding officer of all the Spanish forces during the Battle of Somosierra
Battle of Somosierra
The Battle of Somosierra occurred November 30, 1808 in the Peninsular War, when a French army under Napoleon I forced a passage through the Sierra de Guadarrama shielding Madrid....
.
Benito de San Juan started his military career as a Lieutenant Colonel of Hussars of Estremadura
Estremadura Province (historical)
Estremadura Province is one of the six historical provinces of Portugal....
during the War of the Oranges
War of the Oranges
The War of the Oranges was a brief conflict in 1801 in which Spanish forces, instigated by the government of France, and ultimately supported by the French military, invaded Portugal...
. Noted by Manuel Godoy, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and in 1802 he became the commander of Godoy's personal guard. Soon afterwards he was again promoted, this time to the rank of Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
. In 1805 promoted to the rank of mariscal (in fact a general's grade), he became the general inspector of Spanish infantry and line cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
.
During the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
he assumed the command over the major part of the Spanish forces defending Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. Knowing the weakness of his forces, much inferior to the French army which was considered the best fighting force of its times, he prepared a plan of indirect defence of the Spanish capital by defending the Somosierra
Somosierra
Somosierra is a mountain pass in the Sierra de Guadarrama north of Madrid in Spain. It connects the north of the Community of Madrid with the east of the province of Segovia...
pass on the road leading towards it. However, in the effect of the battle of Somosierra
Battle of Somosierra
The Battle of Somosierra occurred November 30, 1808 in the Peninsular War, when a French army under Napoleon I forced a passage through the Sierra de Guadarrama shielding Madrid....
he lost most of his artillery and his force was dispersed, while de San Juan himself was wounded several times during the charge of the Polish cavalry
Polish cavalry
The Polish cavalry can trace its origins back to the days of Medieval mounted knights. Poland had always been a country of flatlands and fields and mounted forces operate well in this environment...
.
He managed to withdraw with the remnants of his routed forces to Talavera
Talavera
Talavera may refer to the following:Places* Talavera de la Reina, a city in Toledo province, Spain, where two battles took place:** Battle of Talavera, during the Peninsular War** Battle of Talavera de la Reina , during the Spanish Civil War...
, where he attempted to rally his army. However, the demoralisation of the Spanish army, composed in a large part of untrained conscripts and peasant volunteers, led to a mutiny. On January 7, 1809 the mutineers captured their general and executed him.