📅 On This Day in Military History

June 21

1 event across history

⚔️📍 Vitoria, Spain1813

Battle of Vitoria — Wellington Defeats France in Spain

Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese-Spanish army decisively defeated Joseph Bonaparte's French army at Vitoria, capturing the entire French treasury and forcing France to abandon Spain. The retreating French army became a disorganized mob.

Vitoria effectively ended the Peninsular War and forced Napoleon to divert troops from Germany to deal with Spain — a major contribution to his final defeat in 1814.

Outcome

Allied victory; French expelled from Spain

Casualties

15,000