Battle of Puebla
1862 CE · Puebla, Mexico
The Battle of Puebla was fought in 1862 CE in Puebla, Mexico between Mexico vs the Second French Empire; Mexican victory, commemorated as Cinco de Mayo.
Battle of Puebla: quick facts
- Date
- 1862 CE
- Location
- Puebla, Mexico
- Belligerents
- Mexico vs the Second French Empire
- Commanders
- Ignacio Zaragoza vs Charles de Lorencez
- Result
- Mexican victory, commemorated as Cinco de Mayo.
- Era
- 🌎 Latin American Wars
- Quiz difficulty
- easy
What happened at the Battle of Puebla?
General Ignacio Zaragoza led the Mexican army to a surprising victory over the French expeditionary force at Puebla. The French army, considered the finest in the world, was repulsed with heavy losses. Though France would later conquer Mexico City, the victory at Puebla became a powerful symbol of Mexican resistance, celebrated every May 5th as Cinco de Mayo.
Did you know?
The Battle of Puebla is more widely celebrated in the United States as Cinco de Mayo than it is in Mexico, where it is a relatively minor holiday compared to Mexican Independence Day on September 16th.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Puebla 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.