Battle of Montjuïc (1641)

For other battles, see Battle of Montjuïc.

The Battle of Montjuïc took place on 26 January 1641 during the Reapers' War. A Spanish force under Pedro Fajardo launched an attack on the Catalan army led by Francesc de Tamarit, with French cavalry support. The Spanish force had recently massacred hundreds of rebels who had tried to surrender at Cambrils.

Battle of Montjuïc (1641)
Part of the Reapers' War
Battle of Montjuïc
Date 26 January 1641 Location Montjuïc, Catalonia Result Franco-Catalan victory.
Belligerents
Principality of Catalonia Kingdom of France	Habsburg Spain
Commanders and leaders
Francesc de Tamarit Henri de Serignan George Stewart	Pedro Fajardo
Strength
6,000	23,000
Casualties and losses
50	300–1,500

The Catalan rebels had taken up position on the heights of Montjuïc which dominated the city of Barcelona. The Spanish launched several concerted attempts to capture Montjuïc Castle, but were continually repulsed. Finally a large force of Catalan rebels counter-attacked from the direction of Barcelona. Large numbers of Spanish troops were killed and the remainder had to withdraw to Tarragona along the coast.

Amongst those killed at the battle was John O'Neill, the exiled Earl of Tyrone, who was serving with an Irish regiment in the Spanish army.

Spanish troops in red, Catalans in blue

Bibliography

• Elliott, John (1963). The revolt of the Catalans: a study in the decline of Spain (1598–1640). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-27890-2.
• Serra, Eva. La guerra dels segadors. Ed. Bruguera (Barcelona, 1966)