Joaquín Ibáñez, Baron de Eroles
| Joaquín Ibáñez Cuevas y de Valonga, Baron de Eroles | |
|---|---|
 Baron de Eroles from Guerilleros de 1808 (Madrid, 1887) | |
| Born |
1784 Talarn, Catalonia, Spain |
| Died |
22 August 1825 Daimiel, Castile-La Mancha, Spain |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Kingdom of Spain |
| Service/branch | Infantry |
| Rank | Captain General |
| Battles/wars |
Battle of Molins de Rey (1808) Siege of Gerona (1809) Raid of La Junquera (1810) Battle of Montserrat (1811) Battle of Col de Balaguer (1812) Battle of Altafulla (1812) Battle of Roda de Isábena (1812) |
| Awards |
Order of Charles III, Knight Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand Order of Saint Louis Légion d'Honneur |
| Other work |
Barcelona Fine Arts Academy Lawyer |
Joaquín Ibáñez Cuevas y de Valonga, Baron de Eroles (1784 – 22 August 1825) led a Spanish division against Imperial France in a number of actions during the Peninsular War. A lawyer at the outbreak of war, he took command of guerillas who resisted the French occupation of his native Catalonia. He fought at Molins de Rey in 1808. Captured by the French at Gerona in 1809, he later escaped. By 1810 he led one of four regular divisions of the Army of Catalonia. In November 1810 he destroyed a French convoy at La Junquera. His men were driven off Montserrat Mountain on 25 July 1811. His division wiped out a French column at Col de Balaguer on 18 January 1812. Six days later he was badly beaten at Altafulla when he mistakenly attacked Maurice Mathieu's superior French force in a thick fog. On 5 March he defeated a French force that attacked him at Roda de Isábena. Later in the war he liberated a number of towns from the French.
After the war he was admitted to the Royal Fine Arts Academy of Barcelona. A believer in absolutism, he opposed the Trienio Liberal in 1820 and retired to his estate before fleeing to France. He supported the reimposition of absolutist government by French intervention, called the Hundred Thousand Sons of St. Louis. He was appointed Captain General of Catalonia in 1823 but died in somewhat mysterious circumstances in 1825.
See also
References
- (Spanish) "El Barón de Eroles". ASASVE. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- Gates, David (2002). The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War. London: Pimlico. ISBN 0-7126-9730-6.
- Oman, Charles (1996). A History of the Peninsular War Volume III. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole. ISBN 1-85367-223-8.
- Oman, Charles (1996). A History of the Peninsular War Volume IV. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole. ISBN 1-85367-224-6.
- Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.