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The Battle of Zacatecas was a military action of the
Mexican War of 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 ...
fought on 15 April 1811 at Zacatecas. 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 Mexican insurgents were commanded by General Ignacio López Rayón and the Spanish by José Manuel de Ochoa. The battle resulted in a victory for rebel forces.


Context

Following the retreat of
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Don Miguel Gregorio Antonio Ignacio Hidalgo y Costilla y Gallaga Mandarte Villaseñor (8 May 1753  – 30 July 1811), more commonly known as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla or Miguel Hidalgo (), was a Catholic priest, leader of the Mexican ...
and an army of insurgents to the north of Mexico after their defeat at the
Battle of Calderón Bridge The Battle of Calderón Bridge ( es, Batalla del Puente de Calderón) was a decisive battle in the Mexican War of Independence. It was fought in January 1811 on the banks of the Calderón River east of Guadalajara in present-day Zapotlanejo, ...
on 16 March 1811, a meeting of the rebel leaders was convened in Saltillo,
Coahuila Coahuila (), formally Coahuila de Zaragoza (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza), is one of the 32 states of Mexico. Coahuila borders the Mexican states of Nu ...
. The meeting was convened for the purpose of naming a leader to coordinate the rebel forces from a base in the north with the end goal of achieving Mexican independence. Despite being career soldiers, both
Mariano Abasolo Jose Mariano de Abasolo (1783–1816) was a Mexican revolutionist, born at Dolores, Guanajuato. He participated in the revolution started by Miguel Hidalgo. Biography In 1809 he belonged to one of the first conspiracy groups located in Val ...
and Joaquín Arias turned down nominations for the position. Eventually, Ignacio López Rayón was named supreme chief of insurgent forces and his second in command.


The battle

After hearing news of the capture of insurgent commanders in , López Rayón left
Coahuila Coahuila (), formally Coahuila de Zaragoza (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza), is one of the 32 states of Mexico. Coahuila borders the Mexican states of Nu ...
on 26 March and made way with his forces to Zacatecas. His march to Zacatecas was pursued by the Royalist army of José Manuel Ochoa who López Rayón defeated at the Battle of Puerto de Piñones. The victory was not decisive and the Royalist army continued to harass the insurgents until they were defeated again at Zacatecas on 15 April 1811. López Rayón took the town of Zacatecas and used it as an industrial base to produce
artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, ...
, gunpowder, and uniforms for his soldiers.


Aftermath

After his capture of Zacatecas, López Rayón marched to La Piedad, Michoacán, where he joined his forces together with those of .


See also

*
Mexican War of 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 ...
*
Zacatecas, Zacatecas Zacatecas () is the principal city within the municipality in Mexico of the same name, and the capital and the largest city of the state of Zacatecas. Located in north-central Mexico, the city had its start as a Spanish mining camp in the mid- ...


Bibliography

* Zacatecas Zacatecas 1811 History of Zacatecas Zacatecas Zacatecas 1811 in New Spain April 1811 events {{Spain-battle-stub