Battle of Puebla

Battle of Puebla
Part of the Second French intervention in Mexico
Depictions of the battle showing Mexican cavalry overwhelming the French troops below the fort at Loreto Scene recreated by Francisco P. Miranda. Oil on canvas, 1872
Date May 5, 1862 Location Puebla City, Mexico Result Mexican Republican victory Political victory for Mexican republicans
Belligerents
Second Federal Republic of Mexico	Second French Empire Mexican nobility
Commanders and leaders
Ignacio Zaragoza Benito Juárez	Charles de Lorencez
Strength
4,500	6,500 soldiers
Casualties and losses
87 killed, 131 wounded, 12 missing	476 killed, 304 wounded, 35 captured

The Battle of Puebla took place on 5 May 1862, near Puebla City in Mexico. It was part of  the "Second French intervention in Mexico". The Mexican Army won over the occupying French soldiers.

The French eventually overran the Mexicans in other battles. However, the Mexican victory at Puebla against a much better equipped and larger French army gave a morale boost to the Mexican army. It  also slowed the French army's advance towards Mexico City.

Background

The 1858–60 Mexican civil war (known as the "Reform War") caused major distress in Mexico's economy. When he was elected president in 1861, Benito Juárez was forced to stop payments of interest on foreign debts for two years.

At the end of October 1861 diplomats from Spain, France, and Britain met in London to form the Tripartite Alliance. The main purpose of this alliance was to launch an allied invasion of Mexico, to take control of Veracruz, its major port. The idea was to force the Mexican government to negotiate terms for repaying its debts and for reparations for harm to foreign citizens in Mexico. In December 1861, Spanish troops landed in Veracruz; British and French followed in early January.

The allied forces occupied Veracruz and advanced to Orizaba. The Tripartite Alliance fell apart by early April 1862, when it became clear the French wanted to impose harsh demands on the Juarez government and provoke a war. The British and Spanish withdrew, leaving the French to march alone on Mexico City. Napoleon III wanted to set up a puppet Mexican regime.