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If victory were simply a matter of occupying the field after the battle, several allied victories (including Bussaco), which are allied victories by general consensus, would be French victories (this isn't so for obvious reasons). At Majadahonda, the Anglo-Portuguese were attacked by a cavalry force their size, beaten, pursued and routed. The French were not required to hold the field. Now, in every account I have read of this battle, the French were not actually driven off by force, but retired when they saw British reinforcements coming up. The cannons were discovered after the battle, but the carriages were burnt. Nowhere in this action were the allies really 'victorious', except in checking the French around Las Rosas (but the French were not driven off, only halted). Finally, I distrust the casualties given but they come from the only source that provides an accurate answer. It's much more likely that the allied suffered twice as many casualties.
To conclude, this action was certainly not 'indecisive', and in absolutely no way a 'tactical allied victory'.-- Guard Chasseur ( talk) 12:30, 4 June 2010.
The French won, no question. In many battles the victor didn't end up holding the field, and in this kind of battle it doesn't really matter. The raid was a success, the British did suffer casualties. They were no more driven off than John Moore at Corunna, which I believe to be a British victory.
In no way can it be labelled an allied victory. It was a mere raid and the allies suffered most here.
Careful when stating that the French lost most. They won heaps of engagements against the Brits outside the Peninsular War (and these British campaigns ended in a failure). But in the Peninsular War, not counting this battle, the French won at Fuengirola, Tarragona, the Coa, Redinha, Casal Novo, 1st Almeida, El Boden, Maguilla, Venta del Pozo, Burgos, 1st San Sebastian, Maya, Roncevalles, Lizasso. I can still list more. As for the Brits, they won more in the Peninsular, but then again they had a quite a good general. Guard Chasseur ( talk) 07:00, 24 August 2010 (UTC)
There's a difference between being 'defeated' and being 'checked'. The French raid was checked on the outskirts of Las Rozas by KGL light infantry but they were not beaten. And the allies didn't 'take' the field by force. Spartacus97 ( talk) 09:26, 25 August 2010 (UTC)
May I also point out that the KGL British cavalry was involved in the rout and pursuit to Las Rozas, so the statement that only the Portuguese cavalry was defeated here is false.
A very similar incident happened at Campo Maior. The French squadrons were broken and chased over several miles, but the allied cavalry's advance was halted by fire and a sortie from Badajoz. Almost all the lost cannons were recovered. Yet it hardly constitutes and allied victory. At Majadahonda, the French broke the Anglo-Portuguese squadrons and pursued them over several miles, capturing carriage and 3 cannons. They were eventually halted but not driven off. The French then withdrew, being merely a raiding force, and the allies discovered the lost cannon subsequently.
This battle does not constitute an allied victory, neither tactical nor strategic. It was a cavalry fight the French won. Guard Chasseur ( talk) 10:42, 26 August 2010 (UTC)
I'm not accusing you of saying anything, but I disagree that it was indecisive, seeing as the allies were chased over a great distance, losing their cannons (initially) and baggage. I also disagree with your statement that the allies defeated the French in the second phase of the battle. All they succeeded in doing was bringing the French advance to a halt. A victory would have meant driving the French off from the field.
The battle ended with the allies having their carriage burnt, being seriously mauled and chased several miles by French cavalry. That's not indecisive. That's a defeat for the Anglo-Portuguese. Considering the battle had no strategic impact, Majadahonda was a tactical French victory. Guard Chasseur ( talk) 04:54, 27 August 2010 (UTC)
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If victory were simply a matter of occupying the field after the battle, several allied victories (including Bussaco), which are allied victories by general consensus, would be French victories (this isn't so for obvious reasons). At Majadahonda, the Anglo-Portuguese were attacked by a cavalry force their size, beaten, pursued and routed. The French were not required to hold the field. Now, in every account I have read of this battle, the French were not actually driven off by force, but retired when they saw British reinforcements coming up. The cannons were discovered after the battle, but the carriages were burnt. Nowhere in this action were the allies really 'victorious', except in checking the French around Las Rosas (but the French were not driven off, only halted). Finally, I distrust the casualties given but they come from the only source that provides an accurate answer. It's much more likely that the allied suffered twice as many casualties.
To conclude, this action was certainly not 'indecisive', and in absolutely no way a 'tactical allied victory'.-- Guard Chasseur ( talk) 12:30, 4 June 2010.
The French won, no question. In many battles the victor didn't end up holding the field, and in this kind of battle it doesn't really matter. The raid was a success, the British did suffer casualties. They were no more driven off than John Moore at Corunna, which I believe to be a British victory.
In no way can it be labelled an allied victory. It was a mere raid and the allies suffered most here.
Careful when stating that the French lost most. They won heaps of engagements against the Brits outside the Peninsular War (and these British campaigns ended in a failure). But in the Peninsular War, not counting this battle, the French won at Fuengirola, Tarragona, the Coa, Redinha, Casal Novo, 1st Almeida, El Boden, Maguilla, Venta del Pozo, Burgos, 1st San Sebastian, Maya, Roncevalles, Lizasso. I can still list more. As for the Brits, they won more in the Peninsular, but then again they had a quite a good general. Guard Chasseur ( talk) 07:00, 24 August 2010 (UTC)
There's a difference between being 'defeated' and being 'checked'. The French raid was checked on the outskirts of Las Rozas by KGL light infantry but they were not beaten. And the allies didn't 'take' the field by force. Spartacus97 ( talk) 09:26, 25 August 2010 (UTC)
May I also point out that the KGL British cavalry was involved in the rout and pursuit to Las Rozas, so the statement that only the Portuguese cavalry was defeated here is false.
A very similar incident happened at Campo Maior. The French squadrons were broken and chased over several miles, but the allied cavalry's advance was halted by fire and a sortie from Badajoz. Almost all the lost cannons were recovered. Yet it hardly constitutes and allied victory. At Majadahonda, the French broke the Anglo-Portuguese squadrons and pursued them over several miles, capturing carriage and 3 cannons. They were eventually halted but not driven off. The French then withdrew, being merely a raiding force, and the allies discovered the lost cannon subsequently.
This battle does not constitute an allied victory, neither tactical nor strategic. It was a cavalry fight the French won. Guard Chasseur ( talk) 10:42, 26 August 2010 (UTC)
I'm not accusing you of saying anything, but I disagree that it was indecisive, seeing as the allies were chased over a great distance, losing their cannons (initially) and baggage. I also disagree with your statement that the allies defeated the French in the second phase of the battle. All they succeeded in doing was bringing the French advance to a halt. A victory would have meant driving the French off from the field.
The battle ended with the allies having their carriage burnt, being seriously mauled and chased several miles by French cavalry. That's not indecisive. That's a defeat for the Anglo-Portuguese. Considering the battle had no strategic impact, Majadahonda was a tactical French victory. Guard Chasseur ( talk) 04:54, 27 August 2010 (UTC)