In the siege of Badajoz (16 March – 6 April 1812), also called the third siege of Badajoz, an Anglo-Portuguese Army under the Earl of Wellington (later the Duke of Wellington) besieged Badajoz, Spain, and forced the surrender of the French garrison. The siege was one of the bloodiest in the Napoleonic Wars and was considered a costly victory by the British, with some 4,800 Allied soldiers killed or wounded in a few short hours of intense fighting during the storming of the breaches as the siege drew to an end. Enraged at the huge number of casualties they suffered in seizing the city, the troops broke into houses and stores consuming vast quantities of alcohol with many of them then going on a rampage, threatening their officers and ignoring their commands to desist, and even killing several. It took three days before the men were brought back into order. When order was restored, an estimated 200-300 civilians had been killed or injured.
1812Mar, 16
The Siege of Badajoz begins: British and Portuguese forces besiege and defeat the French garrison during the Peninsular War.
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Events on 1812
- 27Feb
Manuel Belgrano
Argentine War of Independence: Manuel Belgrano raises the Flag of Argentina in the city of Rosario for the first time. - 26Mar
Gerrymander
A political cartoon in the Boston Gazette coins the term "gerrymander" to describe oddly shaped electoral districts designed to help incumbents win reelection. - 24Jun
French invasion of Russia
Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon's Grande Armée crosses the Neman river beginning the invasion of Russia. - 12Jul
Upper Canada
The American Army of the Northwest briefly occupies the Upper Canadian settlement at what is now at Windsor, Ontario. - 7Sep
Battle of Borodino
French invasion of Russia: The Battle of Borodino, the bloodiest battle of the Napoleonic Wars, was fought near Moscow and resulted in a French victory.