Walking through the history - Napoleonic route - Tourism in Vitoria-Gasteiz
The victory of Wellington
On 21 June 1813 one of the most decisive battles in the Peninsular War took place in Vitoria. The allied troops, led by the Duke of Wellington and General Álava, defeated the French troops led by José Bonaparte himself and Marshal Jourdan which led to his definitive expulsion from the Iberian Peninsula. In the turmoil of Europe at that time, the significance of the battle was such that Beethoven himself composed a symphony to commemorate, "the Victory of Wellington".
The baggage of King José
This is the title of one of the National Episodes by Pérez Galdos that refers to the enormous haul taken by the French after the Battle of Vitoria. The whole court, headed by José I, fled Madrid taking with them great quantities of jewels, gold and works of art. Thousands of carriages were trapped in the city district as they fled toward Pamplona and were pillaged by the victors. Wellington recovered a many works of art, but Fernando VII gave many of them to him to thank him for his role in the war. Today they can be seen at his residence Apsley House in London.
Consequences
This battle was not the end of the French occupation of the Peninsula and the return of Fernando VII to the throne, however the triumph of the allies over the almighty armed forces of Napoleon changed the course of European history. Austria, Prussia, Russia and Sweden broke off negotiations with Napoleon and declared war again, defeating him in Leipzig.
Stars of Vitoria. Stars of Vitoria
Marchioness of Montehermoso
María del Pilar Acedo y Sarriá, born in Tolosa, on 10 March 1784. Beautiful and very cultured, at 16 years old she married Ortuño Mª Aguirre,a highly educated landowner 17 years hersenior. In 1801 their only daughter María Amalia was born, who was painted by the brilliant Goya in 1811.
On 22 September 1808, José I arrived in Vitoria and stayed at Montehermoso Palace. He fell inlove with the Marchioness, who then became the monarch's favourite. Aguirre eventually sold the palace to the king for two million reales, a fortune at the time. At various times this palace was the venue for the court of the French king (1808, 1811 and 1813). Already in Madrid, the Marchioness openly acted as a favourite at all social events of the court. The people of Madrid made up a rhyme that roughly translated said:
'From Montehermoso the lady, has an inkwell, where José the first dips his feather'. The Marchioness and José I left Vitoria definitively on the eve of the famous battle of 21 June 1813, and headed to France. Shortly after, they finally stopped seeing each other. Pilar Acedo died in Carrese, Bearn, on 27 February 1869.
General Álava
Miguel Ricardo de Álava y Esquível (Vitoria, 1772 - Barèges, France, 1843). After studying at the Real Seminario Patriótico de Bergara (Royal Patriotic Seminary of Bergara), he began his career as a sailor with his ancle Ignacio Mª de Álava. He participated in the battles of Toulon and Trafalgar. Back in Vitoria, he took part in the Assembly in Bayonne representing the Marina. Faced with the action of the French armed forces, he decided to leave for Madrid to fight against them. Throughout the War of Independence he did tremendous work as a link between the Courts of Cádiz and the allied forces led by Wellington. He participated in many of the great battles and his role in the battle of Vitoria was especially praiseworthy. Thanks to him, the city avoided being plundered, saving many lives and a lot of property.
After enduring persecution during the absolutist period, his friendship with Wellington led him to form part of his military staff in the decisive Battle of Waterloo in 1815. After this, Álava played the leading role in the unique achievement of recovering 284 pictures and 108 objects by the best artists that the French had looted and taken to Paris.
He later became an ambassador in France (1815, 1835), the Netherlands (1815-19), a councillor for Álava (1821), President of the Courts (1822), ambassador in the United Kingdom (1834, 1838), senator (1834, 1836), minister of the Marina (1835) and Chair of the Council of Ministers (1835)
Your opinion matters to us
If you prefer, you can send usyour comments. You need to login.