Battle of Ramales (1839)

The Battle of Ramales, a battle of the First Carlist War, occurred at Ramales in Cantabria on May 12, 1839. The Liberals were commanded by Baldomero Espartero, the Carlists by Rafael Maroto.

The Liberals, initially outnumbering the Carlists twice over, ended up having four times as many forces. This resulted from the fact that Maroto kept eight of his seventeen battalions in reserve and had ordered the defenders of the fortification of Guardamino to abandon this post. Maroto was later accused of complicity with his opponent Espartero for having performed these two actions.

Espartero ordered Leopoldo O'Donnell to attack the Carlists positioned in the heights of Mazo, while Ramón Castañeda was ordered by Espartero to attack the Carlists at the Peña del Moro. Ramales was battered by the Isabeline artillery, but the Liberals were only able to take this town after annihilating a Carlist force of 27 men entrenched in a nearby cave. There are different versions of the story of how this annihilation took place. Some attribute the actions of the Liberal guerrilla Juan Ruiz Gutierrez, known as Cobanes, and say that Cobanes threw straw into the cave and then set it on fire, thereby dislodging the Carlist defenders. Others attribute the victory to a 7-hour siege of artillery or the use of Congreve rockets.

Ramales was ultimately conquered but was destroyed both by the Carlist forces in retreat and by the Liberal occupiers.

Ramales was renamed Ramales de La Victoria after the battle, and Espartero received the title of Duque de La Victoria (Duke of La Victoria).

For the Carlists, the loss of Ramales meant that they had to evacuate the valley of Carranza, lost the metal foundry at Guriezo, and had to abandon the chance to operate from Cantabrian lands and potentially invade Asturias and Galicia.

Outline of the First Carlist War (1833 to 1839)

HISTORIC BATTLES

First Carlist War (1833 to 1839)

The First Carlist War was a civil war in Spain from 1833 to 1839, fought between factions over the succession to the throne and the nature of the Spanish monarchy. It was fought between supporters of the regent, Maria Christina, acting for Isabella II of Spain, and those of the late king's brother, Carlos de Borbón (or Carlos V). The Carlists supported return to an absolute monarchy. View Historic Battle »

Basque reasons for Carlist uprising: Since the 18th century, a new emergent class had an interest in weakening the powerful Basque nobles and their influence in commerce, including that extending throughout the world with the help of the Jesuit order.

The contenders: Another important reason for the massive mobilisation of the western Basque provinces and Navarre for the Carlist cause was the tremendous influence of the Basque clergy in the society, one that still addressed to them in their own language, Basque, unlike school and administration, institutions where Spanish had been imposed by then.

The combatants: Both sides raised special troops during the war. The Liberal side formed the volunteer Basque units known as the Chapelgorris, while Tomás de Zumalacárregui created the special units known as aduaneros.

War in the Northern Front: The Basque regional governments of Biscay, Álava, and Gipuzkoa followed suit by pledging obedience to Zumalacárregui.

War in the Southern Front: In the south, the Carlist general Miguel Gómez Damas attempted to establish a strong position there for the Carlists, and he left Ronda on November 18, 1836, entering Algeciras on November 22.

The end of war: The war effort had taken a heavy toll on Basque economy and regional public finances with a population shaken by a myriad of war related plights.

Consequences: The financial and trading bourgeoisie burgeoned, but after Carlist war the Treasury's coffers were depleted and the army pending discharge.
Battles of the First Carlist War (Chronology)

HISTORIC BATTLES

Battles of the First Carlist War (Chronology)

Battle of Alsasua (April 22, 1834) - Carlist victory

Battle of Alegría de Álava (October 27, 1834) - Carlist victory

Battle of Venta de Echávarri (October 28, 1834) - Carlist victory

Battle of Mendaza (December 12, 1834) - Liberal victory

First Battle of Arquijas (December 15, 1834) - Liberal victory

Second Battle of Arquijas (February 5, 1835) - Carlist victory

Battle of Artaza (April 22, 1835) - Carlist victory

Lord Eliot Convention April 27–28, 1835 - British-sponsored agreement between Carlists and Liberals regarding treatment of prisoners

Battle of Mendigorría (July 16, 1835) - Liberal victory

Battle of Arlabán (January 16–18, 1836) - Carlist victory

Battle of Terapegui (April 26, 1836) - Liberal victory

Battle of Villarrobledo (September 20, 1836) - Liberal victory

Battle of Majaceite (November 23, 1836) - Liberal victory

Battle of Luchana (December 24, 1836) - Liberal victory

Battle of Oriamendi (March 16, 1837) - Carlist victory

Battle of Huesca (March 24, 1837) - Liberal victory

Battle of Villar de los Navarros (August 24, 1837) - Carlist victory

Battle of Aranzueque (September 1837) - Liberal victory, end of Carlist campaign known as the Expedición Real

Battle of Maella (October 1, 1838) - Carlist victory

Battle of Peñacerrada (June 20–22, 1838) - Liberal victory

Battle of Ramales (May 13, 1839) - Liberal victory

HISTORY

First Carlist War (1833 to 1839)

The First Carlist War was a civil war in Spain from 1833 to 1839, fought between factions over the succession to the throne and the nature of the Spanish monarchy. It was fought between supporters of the regent, Maria Christina, acting for Isabella II of Spain, and those of the late king's brother, Carlos de Borbón (or Carlos V). The Carlists supported return to an absolute monarchy.