Battles & Campaigns · 1814
Battle of Orthez
Orthez, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France
What happened
A British, Portuguese and Spanish army under Wellington attacked a French army under Marshal Soult. By 1814 Wellington's army had crossed from Spain into southwest France. Near Orthez the French right held off several attacks, but the centre and left gave way. Soult ordered a retreat, which became disorderly.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was one of the last battles of the Peninsular War. It pushed Soult out of his position and away from Bordeaux.
What came next
Soult fell back to Toulouse, where the next battle was fought on 10 April. Soult later served three times as Prime Minister of France.
Did you know?
Wellington was knocked off his horse when a shot hit his sword hilt, but he climbed back on and kept directing the battle.
Timeline
- 27 February 1814Battle of Orthez.
- 10 April 1814Battle of Toulouse.
- 1832Soult first becomes Prime Minister of France.
- 26 November 1851Soult dies.