Historical Context
As a part of the Dos de Mayo (2 May) uprising the city had already successfully resisted a first siege from 15 June 1808 to 14 August 1808. This was one of the first times in history that a regular army was defeated by irregulars in street fighting.
Further defeats - especially the surrender of General Dupont at the Battle of Bailén - forced King Joseph Bonaparte to withdraw behind the Ebro River, abandoning most of Spain except a small corner in the north-east and a small area around Barcelona.
The Spanish at this point missed their best chance to defeat the French. They did not appoint a Supreme Commander, so all the armies continued to operate independently. The main armies consisted of those of General Blake on the north coast, General Castaños around Tudela and General Palafox around Saragossa. Blake was the most active, but he was defeated at Zornoza on 31 October 1808.
Napolean's plan was to attack in strength towards Burgos in between the armies of Blake and Castaños. Once they broke through they were to swing both north and south to envelope the remaining armies. In order to achieve this, Napolean wanted the exposed Spanish armies to remain in their current advanced positions. To achieve this Marshal Moncey's 3rd Corps opposite General Castaños remained inactive from late October to 21 November.
The Spanish armies, however, moved constantly to no discernible effect. Castanos was ill much of the time, leaving Palafox in command. He seemed reluctant to adopt a firm course of action.
On 21 November 1808 the French 3rd Corps crossed the Ebro River at Logrono and headed east towards Calahorra. Marshal Ney's column reached the Upper Douro valley and headed for Tudela.
These movements developed into the Battle Of Tudela. This battle was a major victory for the French, but the armies of the Spanish generals (O'Neylle and Castaños) were able to flee to Saragossa, escaping with the large majority of their war chests and cannons.
The stage was now set for the Second Siege of Saragossa.
Read more about this topic: Siege Of Zaragoza (1809)
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