The battle of Albuera was fought between the forces of France, led by Marshal Soult, and the combined forces of Britain, Portugal and Spain under Sir William Beresford. The battle, named after the Spanish village about which the fighting took place, cost the lives of 13,000 men. The French effort, to disrupt Beresford's siege of the town of Badajoz was unsuccessful, but this was not a great allied victory. Nonetheless, Albuera became one of the most famous of Peninsular battles.