Battle of Casal Novo

Battle of Casal Novo
	Part of Peninsular War
	; Map with positions and movements
Date	14 March 1811
Location	Casal Novo, southeast of Coimbra, Portugal40°12′N 8°25′W / 40.200°N 8.417°W
Result	French victory; (see § Aftermath)
Belligerents
France	United Kingdom; Portugal
Commanders and leaders
Michel Ney; Jean Gabriel Marchand	Sir William Erskine
Strength
4,600	7,000
Casualties and losses
at least 55	at least 155

Peninsular War

220km
137miles

V

e

d

r

a

s

T

o

r

e

s

8

Fuentes de Oñoro

7

Sabugal

6

5

Lisbon

4

Bussaco

3

Almeida

2

Ciudad Rodrigo

1

Astorga

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Third French invasion:

1

Siege of Astorga March April 1810

2

Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo April 1810

3

Siege of Almeida July 1810
3.1 Blockade of Almeida April 1811

4

Battle of Bussaco September 1810

5

Torres Vedras protects Lisbon

6

Battle of Redinha March 1811

7

Battle of Sabugal April 1811

8

Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro May 1811

The Battle of Casal Novo was a rear-guard action fought on March 14, 1811, during Massena's retreat from Portugal. During this retreat a French division, under command of Michel Ney, conducted a series of sharp rear-guard actions. At Casal Novo, the recklessness of Sir William Erskine resulted in costly losses in the Light Division.