The Battle of Zitlala took place during the
War of Mexican Independence
The Mexican War of Independence (, 16 September 1810 – 27 September 1821) was an armed conflict and political process resulting in Mexico's independence from the Spanish Empire. It was not a single, coherent event, but local and regional ...
on 4 July 1812 in the outskirts of
Zitlala,
Guerrero
Guerrero, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Guerrero, is one of the 32 states that compose the administrative divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Guerrero, 85 municipalities. The stat ...
. The battle was fought between the
royalist forces loyal to the Spanish crown, and the Mexican rebels fighting for independence from the
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire, sometimes referred to as the Hispanic Monarchy (political entity), Hispanic Monarchy or the Catholic Monarchy, was a colonial empire that existed between 1492 and 1976. In conjunction with the Portuguese Empire, it ushered ...
. The battle resulted in a victory for the Mexican rebels.
Context
When
José María Morelos
José María Teclo Morelos Pérez y Pavón () (30 September 1765 – 22 December 1815) was a Mexican Priesthood in the Catholic Church, Catholic priest, statesman and military leader who led the Mexican War of Independence movement, assuming it ...
was advancing on the capital of
Oaxaca
Oaxaca, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca, is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of the Mexico, United Mexican States. It is divided into municipalities of Oaxaca, 570 munici ...
, he routed a Spanish loyalist force at Zitlala, Guerrero. After his
escape from the 72-day siege at
Cuautla, Morelos joined his army together with 800 men under the command of
Hermenegildo Galeana and
Miguel Bravo at Chiautla. He then moved to march against the loyalist commander General
José María Añorve de Salas at
Chilapa de Álvarez
Chilapa de Álvarez, informally known as Chilapa, is a town located in the municipality of Chilapa de Álvarez in the Mexican state of Guerrero. The town is located approximately 54 kilometers east of the state capital Chilpancingo. Chilapa's ...
followed by General Cerro at
Tixtla de Guerrero. The regional Mexican commander,
Juan Francisco París, did not move to further defend these towns as his army was occupied defending
Ayutla de los Libres
Ayutla de los Libres (Mixtec: Tatioo) is a city and seat of the municipality of Ayutla de los Libres, in the state of Guerrero, southern Mexico.Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía. Principales resultados por localidad 2005 (ITER). Re ...
.
General Cerro, knowing that
:es:Máximo BravoMáximo Bravo was marching with soldiers from
Chilpancingo de los Bravo, decided to attack him at
Tixtla de Guerrero and informed Añorve de Salas of his plans to that end. As Bravo marched towards Chilpancingo, he received news that Morelos was in the area around the Tlacesoutitlan River and that royalist forces under the command of
Julián Ayala Larrazábal were marching towards Petaquillas.
The battle
After being informed of these developments, Añorve de Salas ordered Cerro to join his forces, however, a party of 50 men who apparently did not receive the orders or who had not yet begun their maneuvers to join the main Spanish force, were in the town of
Zitlala when an insurgent force under the command of
Hermenegildo Galeana arrived and gave battle. The insurgents advanced on the town in two sections and eventually were successful in obliging the loyalist forces, who were on horseback, to retreat. The retreating Spanish forces left behind weapons and prisoners which were then taken to Zacatula.
See also
*
Mexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence (, 16 September 1810 – 27 September 1821) was an armed conflict and political process resulting in Mexico's independence from the Spanish Empire. It was not a single, coherent event, but local and regional ...
References
Bibliography
*
]
Battles of the Mexican War of Independence, Zitlala
Zitlala
History of Guerrero
Zitlala
Zitlala
1812 in New Spain
July 1812
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