Luis Firmin de Carvajal, Conde de la Union
Encyclopedia
Luis Firmin de Carvajal, Conde de la Union (1752 – 20 November 1794) became a general officer in the army of the Kingdom of Spain. In 1794 during the French Revolutionary Wars
, he commanded the Spanish Army
in a mostly unsuccessful effort to hold back the army of the First French Republic. He died in battle fighting the French.
. King Charles III of Spain
conferred upon him the title Conde de la Union on 2 August 1778. At the outbreak of the War of the Pyrenees
in 1793, he commanded the fortress of San Fernando at Figueres
. Under the command of Antonio Ricardos
the Spanish army was generally successful in 1793, capturing and holding part of French Rousillon. As a Lieutenant General
, De la Union led a division under Ricardos in a victory at the Battle of Truillas
on 22 September 1793. When Ricardos died in Madrid
in early 1794, and his successor Alejandro O'Reilly
expired soon after, King Charles IV of Spain
appointed de la Union to command the army.
launched a powerful offensive against the Spanish foothold in France. On 30 April and 1 May, the French defeated de la Union at the Battle of Boulou, forcing the Spanish army south of the Pyrenees. The French recaptured the port of Collioure
at the end of May, and blockaded the Spanish garrison of the Fort de Bellegarde at the Pass of Le Perthus
. De la Union made two attempts to break through the blockade. The first try was repulsed at La Junquera on 7 June. The second attempt ended in failure at the Battle of San-Lorenzo de la Muga
on 13 August and Bellegarde fell on 17 September.
De la Union built a chain of 90 redoubts running from Sant Llorenç de la Muga
to the coast. The lines were designed to protect the Alt Emporda
from French invasion, but were manned by troops of uneven quality. The best units were the Spanish Guard and Walloon
Guard, with three battalions each. Regular line infantry and provincial militia
also manned the defenses.
The French blow fell in the early hours of 17 November and the Battle of the Black Mountain
ensued. On the first day, the French gained ground on the western flank, but were repulsed in the center and on the eastern flank. A Spanish artillery shell killed Dugommier on the 18th and his successor Dominique Catherine de Pérignon ordered a temporary halt in the fighting. On 20 November, Pérignon resumed the attack and the French rapidly broke through the first and second Spanish lines. The French assaulted the 25-gun Notre-Dame-del-Roure redoubt for three hours, finally seizing the key position at 3:00 PM. Arriving at Pont de Molins
, de la Union led a counterattack by 1,300 cavalry against two brigades of French infantry. During the subsequent struggle, he fell, fatally hit by two bullets.
The battle ended in a rout of the Spanish army. The French inflicted 10,000 casualties on the Spanish, while suffering only 3,000 losses. Jerónimo Girón-Moctezuma, Marquis de las Amarilas
succeeded to the army command and retreated south of the Rio Fluvià
where he was unable to save the fortress of San Fernando from capture. Girón was soon replaced in command by José Urrutia y de las Casas. Pérignon and Pierre Sauret
successfully concluded the Siege of Roses
in early February. The Peace of Basel
ended the conflict in July 1795.
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
, he commanded the Spanish Army
Spanish Army
The Spanish Army is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies - dating back to the 15th century.-Introduction:...
in a mostly unsuccessful effort to hold back the army of the First French Republic. He died in battle fighting the French.
Early career and 1793
Luis Firmin De Carvajal was born in 1752 in LimaLima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
. King Charles III of Spain
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
conferred upon him the title Conde de la Union on 2 August 1778. At the outbreak of the War of the Pyrenees
War of the Pyrenees
War of the Pyrenees refers to the Pyrenees front of the First Coalition's war against the First French Republic. Also known as Great War, War of Roussillon, or War of the Convention, it pitted Revolutionary France against the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal from March 1793 to July 1795 during the...
in 1793, he commanded the fortress of San Fernando at Figueres
Figueres
Figueres is the capital of the comarca of Alt Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.The town is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí, and houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí, a large museum designed by Dalí himself which attracts many visitors...
. Under the command of Antonio Ricardos
Antonio Ricardos
Antonio Ricardos Carrillo de Albornoz was a Spanish general. He joined the army of the Kingdom of Spain and fought against Habsburg Austria, the Portugal, and the First French Republic during a long military career. By embracing the Spanish Enlightenment, he earned the displeasure of conservative...
the Spanish army was generally successful in 1793, capturing and holding part of French Rousillon. As a Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
, De la Union led a division under Ricardos in a victory at the Battle of Truillas
Battle of Truillas
The Battle of Truillas was fought on 22 September 1793 during the French Revolutionary War between the French Army of the eastern Pyrenees led by Luc Siméon Auguste Dagobert and the Spanish Army of Catalonia under Antonio Ricardos. This attempt by the French to exploit their success in the Battle...
on 22 September 1793. When Ricardos died in 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...
in early 1794, and his successor Alejandro O'Reilly
Alejandro O'Reilly
Alejandro O'Reilly , was a military reformer and Inspector-General of Infantry for the Spanish Empire in the second half of the 18th century...
expired soon after, King Charles IV of Spain
Charles IV of Spain
Charles IV was King of Spain from 14 December 1788 until his abdication on 19 March 1808.-Early life:...
appointed de la Union to command the army.
In command
In April 1794, the newly-organized and reinforced French Army of the eastern Pyrenees under Jacques François DugommierJacques François Dugommier
Jacques François Coquille named Dugommier was a French general....
launched a powerful offensive against the Spanish foothold in France. On 30 April and 1 May, the French defeated de la Union at the Battle of Boulou, forcing the Spanish army south of the Pyrenees. The French recaptured the port of Collioure
Collioure
Collioure is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.It lies on the Mediterranean and was a part of the ancient Roussillon province....
at the end of May, and blockaded the Spanish garrison of the Fort de Bellegarde at the Pass of Le Perthus
Le Perthus
Le Perthus is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France. Inhabitants are called Perthusiens and, as of 2006, inhabitants were 582.-Geography:...
. De la Union made two attempts to break through the blockade. The first try was repulsed at La Junquera on 7 June. The second attempt ended in failure at the Battle of San-Lorenzo de la Muga
Battle of San-Lorenzo de la Muga
The Battle of San Lorenzo de la Muga was fought on 13 August 1794 between an attacking Spanish–Portuguese army led by the Conde de la Unión and a French army commanded by Jacques François Dugommier. The local French defenders headed by Pierre Augereau and Dominique Pérignon repulsed the allies...
on 13 August and Bellegarde fell on 17 September.
De la Union built a chain of 90 redoubts running from Sant Llorenç de la Muga
Sant Llorenç de la Muga
Sant Llorenç de la Muga is a municipality in the Alt Empordà comarca, in Girona province, Catalonia, Spain with an area of 32.06 km² and a population of 177 people.Sant Llorenç de la Muga is situated 16km from Figueres.-External links:**...
to the coast. The lines were designed to protect the Alt Emporda
Alt Empordà
Alt Empordà is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain, one of two into which Empordà was divided by the comarcal division of Catalonia in 1936.- Municipalities :Populations are as of 2001.*Agullana - pop. 668*Albanyà - pop. 99*L'Armentera - pop. 742...
from French invasion, but were manned by troops of uneven quality. The best units were the Spanish Guard and Walloon
Walloons
Walloons are a French-speaking people who live in Belgium, principally in Wallonia. Walloons are a distinctive community within Belgium, important historical and anthropological criteria bind Walloons to the French people. More generally, the term also refers to the inhabitants of the Walloon...
Guard, with three battalions each. Regular line infantry and provincial militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
also manned the defenses.
The French blow fell in the early hours of 17 November and the Battle of the Black Mountain
Battle of the Black Mountain
The Battle of the Black Mountain was fought from 17 to 20 November 1794 between the army of the First French Republic and the allied armies of the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Portugal...
ensued. On the first day, the French gained ground on the western flank, but were repulsed in the center and on the eastern flank. A Spanish artillery shell killed Dugommier on the 18th and his successor Dominique Catherine de Pérignon ordered a temporary halt in the fighting. On 20 November, Pérignon resumed the attack and the French rapidly broke through the first and second Spanish lines. The French assaulted the 25-gun Notre-Dame-del-Roure redoubt for three hours, finally seizing the key position at 3:00 PM. Arriving at Pont de Molins
Pont de Molins
Pont de Molins is a municipality in the comarca of Alt Empordà, Girona, Catalonia, Spain....
, de la Union led a counterattack by 1,300 cavalry against two brigades of French infantry. During the subsequent struggle, he fell, fatally hit by two bullets.
The battle ended in a rout of the Spanish army. The French inflicted 10,000 casualties on the Spanish, while suffering only 3,000 losses. Jerónimo Girón-Moctezuma, Marquis de las Amarilas
Jerónimo Girón-Moctezuma, Marquis de las Amarilas
Jerónimo Morejón Girón-Moctezuma, 3rd Marquis de las Amarillas, born 7 June 1741 at Málaga and died 17 October 1819 at Seville, became a general officer in the army of the Kingdom of Spain and commanded division-sized combat units during the War of the Pyrenees in 1793 and 1794. Though he attained...
succeeded to the army command and retreated south of the Rio Fluvià
Fluvià
The Fluvià is a river in Catalonia. It rises in the Serralada Transversal, passes through Olot, and flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Sant Pere Pescador.- See also :* List of rivers of Spain...
where he was unable to save the fortress of San Fernando from capture. Girón was soon replaced in command by José Urrutia y de las Casas. Pérignon and Pierre Sauret
Pierre Francois Sauret
Pierre François Sauret de la Borie enlisted in the French army as a private, fought in the Seven Years War, and became a general officer during the French Revolutionary Wars. He served with distinction during the War of the Pyrenees before being transferred to the Army of Italy...
successfully concluded the Siege of Roses
Siege of Roses (1794-1795)
The Siege of Roses began on 28 November 1794 and lasted until 4 February 1795 when the Spanish garrison evacuated the port and the forces of the First French Republic took control. Dominique Pérignon commanded the French army and Domingo Izquierdo led the Spanish defenders...
in early February. The Peace of Basel
Peace of Basel
The Peace of Basel of 1795 consists of three peace treaties involving France .* The first of the three treaties of 1795, France made peace with Prussia on 5 April; , * The Second was with Spain on 22 July, ending the War of the Pyrenees; and*...
ended the conflict in July 1795.
Printed Materials
- Ostermann, Georges. "Pérignon: The Unknown Marshal". Chandler, DavidDavid G. ChandlerDavid G. Chandler was a British historian whose study focused on the Napoleonic era.As a young man he served briefly in the army, reaching the rank of captain, and in later life he taught at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Oxford University awarded him the D. Litt. in 1991...
, ed. Napoleon's Marshals. New York: Macmillan, 1987. ISBN 0-02-905930-5 - Smith, DigbyDigby SmithDigby Smith is a British military historian. The son of a British career soldier, he was born in Hampshire, England, but spent several years in India and Pakistan as a child and youth. As a "boy soldier," he entered training in the British Army at the age of 16...
. The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill, 1998. ISBN 1-85367-276-9
External references
- Catalan Wikipedia Luis Firmin De Carvajal, Conde de la Union
- L'Assaut du Sanctuaire del Mare-de-Deu-del-Roure by Bernard Prats in French