19th century: Napoleonic Invasion and war of independence

In 1807, soldiers of the Napoleonic army crossed the border at the Bidasoa. At first they did so as allies, but were soon deemed “invaders”. There were no major battles in Gipuzkoa until the end of the war, when the Anglo-Hispano-Portuguese troops harassed the French army even beyond the border. Although the Battle of San Marcial in Irun, on the River Bidasoa, was fought by 40,000 combatants, the worst consequence of the war was the fact that San Sebastian was almost burned to the ground. Both events occurred on 31 August 1813.

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