Battle of Vitoria
1813 CE · Spain (Basque Country)
The Battle of Vitoria was fought in 1813 CE in Spain (Basque Country) between Britain, Portugal and Spain vs the French Empire; decisive Allied victory that ended French rule in Spain.
Battle of Vitoria: quick facts
- Date
- 1813 CE
- Location
- Spain (Basque Country)
- Belligerents
- Britain, Portugal and Spain vs the French Empire
- Commanders
- Duke of Wellington vs Joseph Bonaparte and Jean-Baptiste Jourdan
- Result
- decisive Allied victory that ended French rule in Spain.
- Era
- ⛵ Colonial & Napoleonic Era
- Quiz difficulty
- hard
What happened at the Battle of Vitoria?
The Duke of Wellington launched a coordinated four-column attack that shattered King Joseph Bonaparte's French army defending the vital crossroads of Vitoria. The French were routed so completely that they abandoned an enormous baggage train laden with plundered Spanish treasure, art, and the French war chest. Wellington's troops broke ranks to loot the spoils, prompting the duke's famous complaint about his army. The victory effectively ended French rule in Spain and forced Napoleon to fight on French soil.
Did you know?
Wellington's soldiers at Vitoria were so busy looting the captured French baggage train (which contained millions in gold and art) that they let the French army escape, infuriating the duke.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Vitoria on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.