Battle of Villalar

Timeline

1. 1521Villalar · Castile and LeónThe royal army, combining the Castilian commander's and the Admiral's forces, numbered about 6,000 infantry and 2,400 cavalry; the Comuneros had about 7,000 infantry but only 400 cavalry. Padilla planned to retreat toward Toro, but heavy rain slowed the infantry and rendered arquebuses useless. Royal cavalry broke their ranks; Comunero casualties were about 500 to 1,000 with many fleeing, and three leading figures were captured.
2. 1521Square of Villalar · Castile and LeónEarly the next morning, royal judges sentenced Padilla, Bravo of Segovia and Maldonado of Salamanca to death for treason; the three were beheaded in the square at Villalar and their property confiscated. The Comuneros' organized command core was thus destroyed.
3. 1521Castile · SpainAfter the defeat at Villalar, the cities of Old Castile successively surrendered to the royalists; the remnants either went over to Toledo or fled to Portugal. Toledo and other places held out for several months, but the uprising had lost its field capability. Charles I's rule over Castile was consolidated, and he thereafter relied more on local nobles and consultation with the cortes.