THE SIEGE OF

ZARAGOZA
GROUP 5

Juanma, Emma and Lucía

 INDEX

INTRODUCTION

PLACES PEOPLE
Plaza Santa Engracia y Glorieta Sasera Tadeo Ubón

La Puerta del Carmen (Carmen’s Gate)

José de L´Hotellerie Fernández de
Heredia
Noviciado de Santa Ana
Padre Juan Bonal
Plaza de Salamero Manuela Sancho
Antigua Plaza de San Francisco Juan Antonio Verdier
 INTRODUCTION

SIEGES
It is a fortified place/city which is normally attacked because an army wants to
conquer the territory, so the people have to protect themselves with Sieges.

First Siege Second Siege

Zaragoza reveals against This Siege was started in 21
Napoleon in 24 May of 1808. December of 1808.

This Siege made many problems Napoleon double the number of

to the city and Aragón. soldiers against Zaragoza.
 Plaza Santa Engracia y Glorieta Sasera (Santa Engracia´s Square
and Glorieta Sasera)
Plaza Santa Engracia

It was a big block of houses with very valuable objects. Inside the building there was one of the greatest
Spanish libraries. This building was partly destroyed in the Siege, it was finally demolished in 1836. The
thickness walls of the monastery together with its vicinity to la Puerta de Santa Engracia that finally reach
Plaza España transform it into an important part of the defense.

In consequence of the persistence in the French attacks, they could pass through. They were finally
stopped in Plaza España. After these events, the serious news of Bailén forced the French army to move
away from the city before they conquered it. While they were being expelled they burn the Church of
Santa Engracia in 13 August.

On 29 January of 1909 was inaugurated a commemorative monument. It was designed by the

architect Ricardo Magdalena Tabuenca. There were some words written in the upper part of the
monument.

«¡ZARAGOZANOS!: POR LA VIRGEN DEL PILAR. MORIR O VENCER. 1808.»

In the lower part we can read:

«A LOS HEROICOS DEFENSORES DEL REDUCTO DEL PILAR. PRIMER CENTENARIO DE LOS
SITIOS. 1908.»
Glorieta Sasera
 La Puerta del Carmen (Carmen´s Gate)

Carmen’s Gate was built in 1789 by the architect Agustín

Sanz with a neoclassical style. It was one of the twelve
entrance gates to the city, now shown on Paseo María
Agustín in Zaragoza.
The door has a Roman triumphal arch structure with a
central arch and two smaller lateral arches. In 1997 a bus
collided with it, dislodging several ashlars and putting in
danger its stability. The door was restored and they added
protective pieces to prevent future accidents.
It was one of the places of combat when the Carlist troops
entered through it trying to take Zaragoza on March 5, 1848.
In 1927 the last houses attached to the sides were
demolished and the entire door in the center of the road was
left.
 Noviciado de Santa Ana

“The house of the modest memories of Madre Mª Raflos” as the nuns that
live there call to the small museum contains memorable objects (images,
engraves…) that belonged to the founder (Madre Mª Raflos and Padre Juan
Bonal). With the occasion of the bicentennial of her birthday, the General
Congress collects the memories on an exquisite reconstruction of her cell, in
which the bed and the window are still authentic.

From that period they preserved Rafols’ case

 Plaza de Salamero

It was the chosen place by General Léfébvre to set up his

military headquarters after his easy access to Zaragoza. On
the upper part of the walls we can observe the French
damage. Casamayor received one of the worst bombing on
5 February of 1809. After the occupation of the church
Napoleon established his stable of horses as an ironic act.

Square Salamero was named like that to pay tribute to

Miguel Salamero who created an army with his laborers and
defended the convent of Santa Fe and the street Azoque. His
actions weren't recognised until today, because as an
anonymous heroe his feats weren’t recognised.
 Old Plaza de San Francisco

The old Plaza San Francisco (Nowadays Plaza España) has

been the maximum point of penetration in the War, because of
the weak defenses in Puerta de Santa Engracia.

The fast progress of the French army allowed their troops to

attack again and occupied the ruins they conquered months
before.

Of course the central attack, once the monastery of Jerónimos

was overflowing, the progress was unstoppable. They took the
monastery de los Jerónimos at February, after that the invasion
was directed to the two building that make up the square (The
convent of San Francisco and the Real Hospital de Nuestra
Señora de Gracia.)
 Tadeo Ubón

Protagonist of one of the engraved of Gálvez and Brambila.

The engrave says that Tadeo Jubón was from Escatrón, he

was 29 years old. He was recognised for defending himself
from 2 French soldiers that charged at him when he was
unarmed. He launched against his attacker, took off his
spear and struck him. The other one ran away. He was
rewarded with an honorific shield and the rank of sergeant.
 José de L´Hotellerie Fernández de Heredia

He was born in 1755. He joined the Regimiento de Guardias Walonas

when he was very young, where he was an advantage student. He was
called by Palafox to draft one strong column, it was named as Brigada de
vanguardia del Ejército de Aragón (which military headquarter was
established in Calatayud). On 6 of August he received some news, the
imperials were in Zaragoza. He rejoin his army and goes from Calatayud to
La Muela, Plasencia and Tudela, he finally managed to expel the french
from Navarra, they continued his march until Alfaro.
Palafox reward his actions with the promotion of major of battalion of
guards Walonas. Even Palafox recognised that José was a good military
organizer and rewarded him with the post of Jefe de Estado Mayor General
del ejército de Aragón.
 Padre Juan Bonal

He was born on a wealthy family, on 24 August 1769 in Girona. He

is the founder of Hermanas de Santa Ana. He had been studying for
years until he finished his studies in Theology in Zaragoza, where
he became a priest after some years. In 1800 he started to help sick
people, prisoners and children. The old building suffered a
bombing, at this moment Padre Bonal had to work hard to help the
Spanish citizens. Even if there were explosions and ruins, he still
moved the sick people and children to a better place. Public
buildings such as Real Audiencia, la Lonja and the city council
together with the nobles houses were the provisional refuges.
People was translate to Hospital de Convaleciente and finally to
Hospital de Nuestra Señora de Gracia. Even if there was a war,
Padre Bonal get clothes, medicine and food for the refugees.
 Manuela Sancho

She was born on 16 June of 1784. She wasn’t

relevant until the Second Siege, in which she took
courage and took a weapon with determination. As
Don Mariano Renovales said, I recommend
Manuela Sancho because she helped in the artillery
as the best soldier. She hasn't moved back even in
the worst situations. On 7 January of 1809 she was
recognised by Palafox as an important piece in the
war and she was rewarded with 2 pennies a day.
 Juan Antonio Verdier

He was born on 2 May of 1767 in Toulouse. In 1785 he

joined the infantry and he was a lower rank. In 1792 he was
named as Official Auxiliar of major. He stood out in 1793
when he was hurt, he became Captain and finally General of
Brigada. Between the War of Egypt he was named as
governor of Mansourah and appointed to the expedition of
Siria, he was a very active soldier in San Juan de Acre. He
came back to France as General of the Division. He took
part in the Siege of Zaragoza commanding his division
collaborating in the first siege to the city from the 26 of
June to 4 August of 1808. This siege was a complete fail for
France.