Puebla was the main city where Mexican and French forces fought the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
The battle took place on May 5, 1862, near Puebla de los Ángeles, east of Mexico City. Mexican forces used defensive positions around the city to block the French advance toward the capital. The French launched repeated attacks but failed to break the Mexican lines.
Puebla’s location mattered because it guarded an important route from the Gulf coast toward Mexico City. A French victory would have brought the expedition closer to the capital, while Mexico’s success temporarily stopped the advance.
Puebla should not be confused with Veracruz, where the European expedition landed, or Mexico City, which France captured the following year. The city’s battlefield victory is the historical event commemorated by Cinco de Mayo.