Fought May 16, 1811, between the allied British, Portuguese and Spanish forces, numbering 46,000, of whom 7,000 only were British infantry, the whole army being under the command of Marshal Beresford, and 33,000 French under Marshal Soult. The French attacked Beresford’s position, and the Spaniards offering but a poor resistance, defeat was only averted by the extraordinary valour of the British troops, especially of the Fusilier Brigade, which came into action when the day seemed lost, and drove the French from the field. Of the 7,000 British, but 1,800 were left standing. The French lost over 8,000, including five generals. Alcantara (War of the Spanish Succession). Fought 1706, when a force of British and Portuguese under Lord Galway attacked and drove out of Alcantara the garrison, consisting of a portion of Marshal Berwick’s army. Ten French battalions laid down their arms, and 60 guns were captured. Aleppo (Moslem Invasion of Syria). This place was besieged by the Moslems under Abu Obeidah and Khaled in 638, and the city almost immediately surrendered, but the garrison retired to the citadel, where under Youkinna it maintained a stubborn defence for five months, and caused heavy loss to the besiegers. At last the citadel was taken by surprise, and Youkinna became a convert to Mohammedanism. This was the last serious resistance offered in Syria to the invading Moslems. Aleppo (Tartar Invasion of Syria). Fought November 11, 1400, between the Tartars under Tamerlane, and the Turks under the Syrian Emirs. Instead of standing a siege, the Emirs sallied out to meet Tamerlane in the open field, and suffered a disastrous defeat. They were driven back into Aleppo with the loss of many thousands, and a few days later the Tartars sacked the city and captured the citadel. Aleppo (Ottoman Wars). Fought 1516, between the Turks under Selim I, and the Egyptians under the Mameluke Sultan, Tooman Beg. After a sanguinary engagement, the Egyptians were utterly routed, and Selim added the whole of Syria to the Ottoman dominions. Alesia (Gallic War). Siege was laid to the town by the Romans under Cæsar, B.C. 52, and it was defended by the Gauls, numbering 80,000 infantry and 15,000 cavalry under Vercingetorix, the Romans being about 50,000 strong. An attempt was made by the Belgi, with an army of 260,000 warriors, to relieve the town, but they were met and routed by Labienus with terrific slaughter. This disaster so discouraged the garrison that the town immediately surrendered, Vercingetorix being sent a prisoner to Rome, where five years later he was beheaded as a rebellious subject of Rome. Alessandria (Wars of the French Revolution).