Saragossa

Zaragoza is the sixth novel in the first series of the National Episodes by Benito Pérez Galdós.
Zaragoza recreates the historical episode of the Sites of Zaragoza, specifically the second site.
Prisoner of the French at the end of the previous episode (Napoleon in Chamartín), the protagonist Gabriel de Araceli escapes and goes to Zaragoza to join the army that is being organized with diverse forces. Fate leads him to be one of the city’s brave defenders in the second and strongest of the sites. The square was key to ensuring northeastern communications and supplying troops in Catalonia, as well as controlling Aragon. Therefore, after the uprising of the city because of the events of May 2, 1808, an army was sent to re-establish control of the city. Although the French troops were superior in numbers and armament, the city resisted. However, at the end of the year, the French returned in greater numbers, resuming the siege, until the city finally capitulated on February 21, 1809.
The terrible experience of war is interspersed with the stories of other fictional characters (Agustín de Montoria and Mariquilla Candiola, for example) and real characters (Palafox, Saint March, O’Neille, Butron, Renovales…).

Reference edition: Madrid, Imprenta de J. Noguera a cargo de M. Martínez, 1874.