The last significant historical event in which the town walls played a role was the Recapture of Vigo (1809). This took place during the Spanish War of Independence against the Napoleonic occupation. The victory of the inhabitants of Vigo and local militias, formed by people opposing the French occupation, would result in Vigo being given the title of Loyal, Faithful and Brave Town, a year later.

This was a significant victory as it showed that it was possible to defeat Napoleon. It also raised the moral of other rebels who continued the fight to recapture other towns and cities. Despite this, the war, like all wars, resulted in the loss of life, livelihoods, houses and a deterioration in living standards.

The Reconquest of Vigo in 16 Stages

May-December 1808: The uprising against Napoleon

The rising against the French occupation began in Madrid in May 1808. However, the success of the Spanish, supported by England, led to the arrival in Autumn of Napoleon to contain the uprising. In December, the English retreated, setting sail for home from A Coruña and Vigo. The French followed them closely behind. On 16th January 1809 the Battle of Elviña took place in A Coruña. The town capitulated, along with the towns of Santiago, Ferrol and Mondoñedo.

On hearing this news Vigo began to prepare its defence. After a local disturbance, which saw the main leaders of the town replaced, the Junta de Defensa de Vigo was established. The authorities and local people began to organise the town’s defence by positioning the artillery. However they numbered less than 300 men including soldiers and inexperienced volunteers.

January 1809: Vigo capitulates to the french

1. A French advanced guard arrives: On 31st January, an advanced guard of French cavalry arrived at Areal, followed two hours later, by two squadrons of Hussars. They demanded the surrender of the town and its fortifications.
2. The local people block the entrance to the town: The eager townspeople demanded that the gates be closed and the town defended. Due to the lack of artillery men, a local man tried to fire a cannon which was situated on top of A Gamboa Gate. The authorities arrived to calm everyone down.
3. The town surrenders: The military governor, Juan de Villavicencio, convinced the local people who had now calmed down and were gathered in front of the town hall, that resistance was futile and that it would only end in bloodshed. Vigo signed the surrender the same day.
4. The Spanish soldiers abandon the town: Whilst two squadrons of French Hussars entered through the A Gamboa Gate, the local soldiers left through the A Falperra Gate to join up with the local militia.

February 1809: The french occupy the town and the resistance begins

5. The French take the town: On 1st February, 1,200 French soldiers entered the town through the Sol Gate. They ordered the governor to relinquish their arms to be burnt, three days later, in the A Laxe Bastion. More French troops entered the town the same day.
6. The plunder looted by the French stayed in Vigo: Carts loaded with “treasure” looted by the French remained in Vigo as they couldn’t be taken to Portugal due to the poor state of the roads. The French received supplies and medical attention. However, the supply of provisions was made difficult for them.
7. The rebels begin to organise themselves: On the 14th February, there was a secret meeting in the house of the mayor of Fragoso, Cayetano Pérez de Limia. The Bouzas parish priest and mayor of Vigo, Francisco Javier Vázquez Varela, attended. They began to plan the uprising against the French.
8. The townspeople plot against the French: On 16th February, the French fourth division, under the command of general Heudelet, left Vigo. The local people began to plan how they could get rid of the 1,500 troops that remained. The townspeople (authorities, citizens, priests and monks) began to disrupt French activities by hiding provisions, stealing weapons and taking messages to the outside... some Franciscan monks travelled around the surrounding area calling for an uprising.

March 1809: Recapturing the town

9. The plotters meet in Zamáns: Joaquín Tenreiro gathered around 3000 men together in the Val Miñor. On 12th March, he met the abbots of Valadares and Fragoso in Zamáns. Here they agreed the plan to recapture Vigo. A few days later, Captain Pablo Morillo arrived, who would later take command.
10. The siege of Vigo begins: On 14th March, the militias began to close off access to the town. The siege had begun. When the French left to find supplies, they were confronted by the Spanish. On the 19th, the French left through the A Gamboa Gate to feed their horses and a skirmish took place, with many French losses. The militias arrived at the foot of Castro Castle. They demanded the surrender of the fortified town. However, the French governor, Chalot, would not surrender to civilians.
11. Three local people are killed in a tavern: That same night, French soldiers killed three local people in a tavern. Their bodies were found buried on the beach near to the A Laxe Bastion.
12. Tensions rise: The gates to the town were closed. The French were low on provisions and some soldiers climbed the town walls and robbed houses outside. The local inhabitants of the Falperra and the rúa de Santiago areas of town complained to the French authorities.
13. The French are requested to surrender: On 23rd March, the attackers demanded that the French surrender. The French governor was evasive in his reply, as he was waiting for reinforcements. The English frigates, Lively and Venus, arrived, which had participated in the Napoleonic Wars. That same night, news came that 1,600 French troops were approaching. Soldiers were sent to intercept them in Ponte Sampaio.
14. Planning the assault on the town: On 27th March, once again the French were ordered to surrender the town. Morillo, recently named colonel, boarded the English frigates to inform them about the imminent attack on the town, as his men were impatient to attack. He later ordered his men to move closer to the walls.
15. The town’s recapture took a little more than an hour: The battle began the same day at 9 o’clock at night. They fired on the French and closed in on the town gates, placing ladders against the walls to scale them. This was when Carolo, the old sailor of Berbés, made his legendary attack, trying to smash down the Gamboa gate with his axe, and dying in the attempt. The captain of the militia, Bernardo González del Valle –"Cachamuiña"-, picked up the axe and smashed down the gate before falling himself, shot four times. The attackers captured the city walls, whilst the French barricaded themselves in San Sebastián Castle and A Laxe Bastion.
16. The French prisoners depart for England: The French troops surrendered the town at dawn on 28th March. There were about 1,400 prisoners including soldiers and officers. They were marched off to embark on the English frigates. The O Castro Castle was captured. The French who died during the occupation were buried on the beach at Coia.

Remains of the town walls underneath Vigo are scars of the history of Vigo

The first remains of the town wall discovered underneath Vigo are preserved here. For about 20 years they were visible to the public, protected under a transparent floor. However, this caused problems for their display and conservation. Therefore, after being cleaned and consolidated, the remains were covered over to preserve them for the future.

A cannon, dating to the 18th century, was found a few metres from here, at the junction with calle Montero Ríos. Nearly 3m in length, the cannon is another piece of evidence of the town’s defences.

Other remains of the town walls have also been found in various parts of the city. Their excavation and study has enabled us to be able to reconstruct the layout and get a much better understanding of them. Preserved under the modern city, they are evidence of Vigo’s long and compelling history.