Battle of Zitácuaro

The banner of Miguel Hidalgo, carried by the rebel forces even after his execution

Date	2 January 1812
Location	Heroica Zitácuaro, Michoacán de Ocampo, Mexico
Result	Spanish Royalist victory

Belligerents

Mexican Rebels

Spanish Empire

Commanders and leaders

Ignacio López Rayón

Ramón López Rayón

Félix María Calleja

Strength

22,000 soldiers

6,000 soldiers

Casualties and losses

300 dead

Unknown

Mexican War of Independence organizational phase (1811–1815)

Puerto de Piñones Zacatecas El Veladero El Maguey Llanos de Santa Juana Zitácuaro Tecualoya Tenancingo Cuautla Izúcar Huajuapan de León Tenango del Valle Escamela Zitlala Orizaba Oaxaca Rosillo Creek Acapulco La Chincúa Alazan Creek Medina Lomas de Santa María Puruarán Temalaca

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The Battle of Zitácuaro was a battle of the War of Mexican Independence that occurred on 12 July 1811 in the area around Zitácuaro, Michoacán. The battle was fought between the royalist forces loyal to the Spanish crown and the Mexican rebels fighting for independence from the Spanish Empire. The Mexican insurgents were commanded by General Ignacio López Rayón and the Spanish by Félix María Calleja. The battle resulted in a victory for the Spanish Royalists even in the face of overwhelming odds.

Context

The viceroy of New Spain, Francisco Javier Venegas de Saavedra y Ramínez de Arenzana, ordered the retaking of the city of Heroica Zitácuaro as it was the contemporary site of the "Suprema Junta Nacional Gubernativa", the headquarters for the direction of the entire insurgency against the Spanish crown.

The Battle

The two armies came to blows in and around the city of Zitácuaro. During the battle, Ramón López Rayón, the younger brother of the supreme insurgent commander, Ignacio López Rayón, lost his eye. After many hours of battle, the city eventually fell to Spanish forces despite the numerical superiority of the rebel forces.

Aftermath

In the wake of the rebel defeat at Zitácuaro, the members of the Suprema Junta Nacional Gubernativa were made to flee the city and relocated to the towns of Tlalchapa and Sultepec.^[1]

References

↑ Zárate, 1880; 274-275

Bibliography

Zárate, Julio; Julio Zárate (1880). "La Guerra de Independencia". In Vicente Riva Palacio. México a través de los siglos (in Spanish) III. México: Ballescá y compañía. Retrieved 5 May 2010.

Bustamante, Carlos María de (1846). Cuadro histórico de la revolución mexicana, comenzada en 15 de septiembre de 1810 por el ciudadano Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Cura del pueblo de los Dolores. (in Spanish). México DF: Impr. de JM Lara.

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