Note: This is a lengthy article and has been divided into sections for easier retrieval.--RL.

The Battle of Talavera July 27/28 1809 was a British Victory over the French against odds of 2:1. Or was it? The battle was fought and the British did retain the field but it was a Pyrrhic Victory. It cost Wellesley over a quarter of his force and within days of the battle he was forced to retreat to Portugal. How then could this be called a victory? To find out we have to go back to April and follow the sometimes tortuous route that brought the British to Talavera.

April 22nd to July 2nd
July 3rd to July 26th
July 27th
July 28th: 5 a.m.
July 28th: 1 p.m.
July 28th: 2 p.m.
End of the Day
Aftermath of Battle
Was Talavera a Victory?
Sources
The Battlefield Today
List of Forces (Order of Battle)