Battles & Campaigns · 1814
Battle of Bayonne
Saint-Étienne, Bayonne, France
What happened
In the early hours of 14 April, the French made a sortie and overran much of the Allied picket line at Saint-Étienne. Hope was captured when he rode into French-held ground. Henry de Hinuber rallied the Allied troops, and by about 8 a.m. they had retaken their positions.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the last major battle of the Peninsular War, fought after the war was effectively over. The historian Oman called the sortie 'a pointless and costly exercise'.
What came next
Soult signed an armistice with Wellington on 17 April. Thouvenot handed over Bayonne on 27 April, after receiving Soult's order.
Did you know?
Before the siege, French and British sentries had been friendly, trading goods and letters across the lines.
Timeline
- 10 April 1814Battle of Toulouse.
- 14 April 1814Sortie from Bayonne.
- 17 April 1814Soult signs an armistice.
- 27 April 1814Bayonne is handed over.