12/01/2025
The Sack of Badajoz 6-8 April 1812.
Rangers Behaving Badly
Join us for an engaging history talk by Dr Padraig Lenihan, recently retired from the University of Galway, as he explores one of the darkest chapters of the Napoleonic Wars.
🗓 Date: Thursday, January 16th, 2025
⏰ Time: 8pm
📍 Venue: The Galway Mechanics Institute
💰 Admission: Free
This event is hosted by the Connaught Rangers Association. Don't miss this fascinating discussion. Mark your calendars!
The Dark Legacy of Badajoz: A Tale of Heroism and Horror.
The assault on Badajoz’s Alcazaba fortress stands as one of the bloodiest moments of the Napoleonic Wars. The 88th Connaught Rangers were at the forefront of the brutal attack on this towering citadel, perched high atop a rocky hill. This marked one of three major assaults by Wellington's forces.
When British troops finally broke through the gates, the aftermath was devastating. For two full days and nights, looting, violence, and murder overtook the town. What triggered such brutality from soldiers who were meant to be allies of the local population?
The sack of Badajoz became infamous not just for its violence; so many soldiers documented their experiences. These eye-witness accounts provide a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the minds of soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars, revealing their emotions, justifications, and reflections in the aftermath of such horrors.
Dr Padraig Lenihan is an academic with extensive expertise in military history. His current research focuses on editing eyewitness accounts of historic sacks, ranging from the Sack of Rome in 1527 to the fall of Smyrna in 1922. Through this work, he aims to place these atrocities within their military and cultural contexts, uncover the traumatic personal experiences of those involved, and explore the complex ways in which massacres unfolded.
Connaught Rangers Association
Connaught Rangers Association & Friends
Renmore History Society
University of Galway
Connaught Rangers
Galway Archaeological and Historical Society
