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Last modified: 2020-10-06 by ivan sache
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Flag of La Albuera - Image by Ivan Sache, 14 March 2020
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The municipality of La Albuera (2,028 inhabitants in 2019; 2,640 ha) is located 30 km south-east of Badajoz. The municipal territory is completely surrounded by Badajoz.
La Albuera is the gate to the La Albuera Lakes Complex, located 4 km south-east of the town and also spreading on the municipal territories of Badajoz, Torre de Miguel Sesmero and Nogales. The endorheic (closed) complex is composed of 12 natural lakes and 7 artificial ponds, all temporary. The basin is surrounded by sub-steppic and saline steppic zones ("plains", llanos), which are characterized by a high level of biodiversity. The whole area is registered as a Wet Sone of International Significance per the Ramsar Convention and classified as a Zone of Bird Special Protection and place of Community Significance per Red Natura 2000.
[Information sheet]
La Albuera was the site of a bloody battle fought on 16 May 1811 during the War of Spanish Independance. In May 1811, a part of the French army besieged in Badajoz by the allied (Spanish, British and Portuguese) troops expected support from troops commanded by Marshal Soult, heading from Seville. The allied troops - 30,000 soldiers and 3,600 riders - commanded by General Beresford rushed from Badajoz to La Albuera to intercept Soult's corps - 20,000 soldiers and 4,500 riders.
Early in the morning, Soult sent small groups to attack the central and left sections of the allied troops, keeping most of his troops to attack the enemy's left flank.
Understanding Soult's goal, the experienced allied troops soon reorganized their defense. French hussars and Polish lancers could break the allied lines but were quickly repelled. Standing in a vantageous position, the allied troops repelled the assault of the French infantry, which was eventually ordered to withdraw. Well organized by Soult and protected by the cavalry, the French withdrawal could limit human losses. Some 6,000 allied soldiers and 4,000 French died during this no-win battle.
Marsham Marmont, heading from Salamanca, joined Soult in Llerena. The joint troops, composed of 60,000 men, marched against Badajoz, which resulted in the lift of the siege without fighting.
The re-enaction of the ballte is perfroemd every 16 May in La Albuera.
[Viajar por Extremadura]
The battle of La Albuera is recalled by Lord Byron in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (2, XLIII):
Oh, Albuera! glorious field of grief!
As o'er thy plain the Pilgrim pricked his steed,
Who could foresee thee, in a space so brief,
A scene where mingling foes should boast and bleed!
Peace to the perished! may the warrior's meed
And tears of triumph their reward prolong!
Till others fall where other chieftains lead
Thy name shall circle round the gaping throng,
And shine in worthless lays, the theme of transient song.
Ivan Sache, 14 March 2020
The flag of La Albuera, adopted on 7 October 1997 and 7 July 1998 by the Municipal Council and validated on 17 February and 5 October 1998 by the Assessing Council of Honors and Distinctions of the Government of Extremadura, is prescribed by an Order issued on 23 October 1998 by the Government of Extremadura and published on 3 November 1998 in the official gazette of Extremadura, No. 126, p. 8,012 (text).
The flag is described as follows:
Flag: Rectangular, in proportions 2:3. Divided by the diagonal running from the upper left to the lower right corner, blue at hoist and white at fly. Charged in the center with the municipal coat of arms in full colors..
The coat of arms of La Albuera, adopted on 7 October 1998 by the Municipal Council and validated on 17 February 1998 by the Assessing Council of Honors and Distinctions of the Government of Extremadura, is prescribed by an Order issued on 2 March 1998 by the Government of Extremadura and published on 16 Aprill 1998 in the official gazette of Extremadura, No. 42, p. 2,804-2,805 (text).
The coat of arms is described as follows:
Coat of arms: Quarterly, 1. Azure the monument of the battle of La Albuera argent with the anagram '1811' on the basement, 2. Argent a jasper column a phylactery argent inscribed 'PLUS ULTRA' sable adextered a lion gules crowned or, 3. Argent a bend gules, 4. Azure a circle charged with waves azure and argent. The shield surmounted by a Royal crown closed.
The monument commemorating the battle of La Albuera was erected by the Cortes of Cádiz on the town's main square, close to the front facade of the parish church. The monument, of 6 m in height, is composed of two stone bodies of square plan surrounded by an iron fence, to be accessed by seven steps. The main structure, made of white marble, is a Classic arch decorated with two Tuscan columns supporting a frontispiece. Under the arch stands a bust of General Castaños. A cartouche placed in the frontispiece is inscribed (in Spanish): "Albuera. To the valiant of 16 May 1811. The monuments' commission of Badajoz". In the base of the columns are listed the heroes of the battle; left: "Spanish Generals: Castaños, Blake, Ladizábal, Ballesteros, Zayas, España and Penne"; right: "Anglo-Portuguese Generals: Beresford, Strum, Allen, Lumley and Hamilton". Below, in center, with emphasized writing: "Tribute to General Beresford". A metallic plaque appended on 16 May 1986 (175th anniversary of the battle) by the Center for International Studies and signed by the Wellington Society reads: "To the memory of the English, Portuguese and Spanish soldiers who defeated Napoleon's troops in the battle of La Albuera. The troops of the allied army, commanded by Generals Castaños and Blake, defeated Marshal Soult, who headed with his troops to Badajoz to lift the siege of the town, 16 May 1811".
[Senderos de Extremadura]
Oddly enough, the representation of the monument on the coat of arms is everything but faithful to the original.
Ivan Sache, 14 March 2020
