Battle of Alcántara (1809)

Summary

The Battle of Alcántara was fought on 14 May 1809 during the Peninsular War. It saw a French division led by Marshal Claude Perrin Victor attack an Anglo-Portuguese force comprising the British Army's Loyal Lusitanian Legion (LLL) and Portuguese militia under Colonel William Mayne. After a three hours skirmish, the French stormed across the Alcántara Bridge and forced the Portuguese to retreat. The battle was fought near Alcántara, Spain, a city situated on the Tagus river near the Portuguese border, 285 kilometres (177 mi) west-southwest of Madrid.