Battle of Oriamendi

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Battle of Maella

Date	March 16, 1837
Location	Fortification of Oriamendi, near San Sebastián
Result	Carlist victory

Belligerents

Carlists supporting

Infante Carlos of Spain

Liberals (Isabelinos or Cristinos) supporting
Isabella II of Spain and her regent mother Maria Christina

Great Britain

Commanders

Sebastian de Borbón

Baldomero Espartero, Prince of Vergara
George de Lacy Evans
Pedro Saarsfield

Casualties and losses

~1,000 and 1,500

The Battle of Oriamendi was a battle fought on March 16, 1837 during the First Carlist War.

The battle was part of a campaign in spring 1837 when the liberal Army tried to chase the Carlists from the Basque Country. They attacked from three points: general Pedro Saarsfield from Pamplona, general Espartero from Bilbao and a British-Spanish force under George de Lacy Evans from San Sebastián.

On March 15 the British Legion conquered a fortification known as Oriamendi on a strategic hill near San Sebastián.
The next day the Carlists under Sebastian de Borbón counterattacked and after a long battle, drove the British-liberal army back to their trenches outside San Sebastian. This force had suffered between 1,000 and 1,500 casualties and covering fire from the British Navy prevented the withdrawal from becoming a disaster.

After the battle the Carlists besieged San Sebastián, but never succeeded in taking the city.

The defeat caused an outrage in the British parliament. The battle was a great boost in morale for the Carlists, and lives on in the Marcha de Oriamendi, which became the anthem of the Carlist movement.