About how many Mexican soldiers defended Puebla at the Battle of Puebla?
Answer
4,000 soldiers
About 4,000 Mexican soldiers defended Puebla at the Battle of Puebla.
The Mexican force was significantly smaller than the French expeditionary army, yet it successfully held defensive positions around Puebla on May 5, 1862. Under General Ignacio Zaragoza, the defenders used the city’s fortified terrain and resisted repeated French attacks. Their victory became the historical event commemorated by Cinco de Mayo.
The battle was part of the French intervention in Mexico, which began after Mexico suspended payments on foreign debts. France, Britain, and Spain initially sent forces, but Britain and Spain withdrew after negotiations. France continued its campaign and tried to establish a monarchy in Mexico.
The Puebla victory did not end the intervention. French forces later captured Mexico City in 1863, and Archduke Maximilian of Austria eventually became emperor of Mexico. The Mexican victory at Puebla nevertheless carried major symbolic importance because it demonstrated that the better-equipped French army could be defeated.