Siege of Zaragoza

The siege of Zaragoza is certainly one of the most difficult battles for French troops in Spain. Stretching over almost two months at the beginning of 1809, the fierce fighting put some 45,000 French against 31,000 soldiers and 30,000 Spanish peasants and townspeople made fanatical by the monks in General Palafox's entourage.
After several long exchanges, command of the siege finally fell to Marshal Lannes, who distinguished himself there.
The battle of Zaragoza will be remembered as one of the deadliest, as the population was decimated by both fighting and disease.