The Battle of Oriamendi (Basque: Oriamendiko Gudua) was fought on 16 March 1837 during the First Carlist War.[2] The battle was an overwhelming victory for the Carlists.[3][4]
The battle was part of a campaign in spring 1837 when the liberal Army tried to chase the Carlists from the Basque Country.[citation needed]
General Pedro Sarsfield, marching from Pamplona, was supposed to threaten the Lecumferri pass, while General Espartero was to advance from Bilbao with the purpose of distracting the Carlists.[5] It was planned that the British-Spanish force, starting at San Sebastián, led by George de Lacy Evans would attack the Carlist-held Hernani.[5] This concentric attack was planned by General Sarsfiel with the goal of annihilating Carlist forces.[1]
On 15 March the British Auxiliary Legion conquered a fortification known as Oriamendi on a strategic hill near San Sebastián.[6] The hill was defended by Carlist Guipuzcoans.[3]
The next day the Carlists under Sebastian de Borbón counterattacked and routed the liberal forces supported by the British Legion, both of which suffered heavy losses.[7] Due to the battle, the British-liberal army retreated to their trenches outside San Sebastian.[citation needed] This force had suffered between 1,000 and 1,500 casualties and covering fire from the Royal Navy prevented the withdrawal from becoming a disaster.[citation needed] The success of the Carlist troops laid in a defence-in-depth and their infantry's high mobility.[8]
After the battle, the Carlists tightened their grip around San Sebastián, but never succeeded in taking the city.[citation needed]
The defeat caused an outrage at the British parliament.[citation needed] The battle was a great boost in morale for the Carlists, and lives on in the Marcha de Oriamendi, which became the anthem of the Carlist movement.[citation needed]
43°16′00″N 1°58′00″W / 43.2667°N 1.9667°W / 43.2667; -1.9667