The Battle of Zitlala was a battle of the

War of Mexican Independence The Mexican War of Independence ( es, Guerra de Independencia de México, links=no, 16 September 1810 – 27 September 1821) was an armed conflict and political process resulting in Mexico's independence from Spain. It was not a single, co ...

that occurred on 4 July 1812 on the outskirts of Zitlala,

Guerrero Guerrero is one of the 32 states that comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo and its largest city is Acapulcocopied from article, GuerreroAs of 2020, Guerrero the pop ...

. 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 ( es, link=no, Imperio español), also known as the Hispanic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Hispánica) or the Catholic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Católica) was a colonial empire governed by Spain and its prede ...

. 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 Catholic priest, statesman and military leader who led the Mexican War of Independence movement, assuming its leadership after the execution of ...

was advancing on the capital of

Oaxaca Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of Mexico. It is ...

, 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 Hermenegildo Galeana (13 April 1762 – 27 June 1814) was a hero of the Mexican War of Independence, one of six brothers who fought in the insurgency. Galeana was considered the right-hand man of secular priest and leader of independence, José M ...

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 Chilapa de Álvarez Municipality under the Mexican state of Guerrero. The town is located approximately 54 kilometers east of the state capital Chilpancingo. Chilapa's fir ...

followed by General Cerro at

Tixtla de Guerrero Tixtla (formally, Tixtla de Guerrero ) is a town and seat of the Tixtla de Guerrero Municipality in the Mexican state of Guerrero. The name is Nahuatl, and means either "maize dough" ''(masa) ''from ''textli;'' "our valley" from ''to ixtla;'' ...

. 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 Chilpancingo de los Bravo (commonly shortened to Chilpancingo; ; Nahuatl: Chilpantsinko) is the capital and second-largest city of the state of Guerrero, Mexico. In 2010 it had a population of 187,251 people. The municipality has an area of in ...

, decided to attack him at

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

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.

References

Bibliography

* ] Battles of the Mexican War of Independence, Zitlala Zitlala History of Guerrero Zitlala Zitlala 1812 in New Spain July 1812 events {{Spain-battle-stub

Context

The battle

See also

References

Bibliography