Which two forts were central to Mexico’s defense at the Battle of Puebla?

Fort Loreto and Fort Guadalupe were central to Mexico’s defense at the Battle of Puebla.

The forts stood on elevated ground overlooking approaches to Puebla. Mexican troops used the terrain and fortifications to withstand repeated French attacks. Their defensive position helped offset the French army’s greater experience and equipment, making the battlefield geography an important part of the Mexican victory.

The forts are sometimes confused with Chapultepec Castle, another famous site in Mexican military history. Chapultepec is associated especially with the 1847 Battle of Chapultepec during the Mexican-American War, not the 1862 Battle of Puebla. Loreto and Guadalupe remain associated with Cinco de Mayo because their defense helped prevent the French from taking Puebla that day.