Ventura Caro

Ventura Caro y Fontes (1731–1808) was a Spanish Captain general of the Army.

The younger brother of the Pedro Caro Fontes, 2nd Marquis de La Romana, Ventura Caro was the uncle of three brothers who became leading Spanish military commanders of the Peninsular War, all of whom served under him when they were younger: Pedro Caro y Sureda, 3rd Marquis of La Romana (1761–1811), José Caro Sureda (1764–1813)

Early career

Ventura Caro enlisted in 1750 as a cadet in the Royal Walloon Guards, being promoted to fusilier alférez (ensign) in 1752 and second lieutenant in 1760.

After participating in the Spanish invasion of Portugal (1762), he was promoted to first lieutenant in 1767. which, shortly thereafter, would be renamed Army of Guipúzcoa and Navarra, and was ordered to take up defensive positions while the Army of Rosellón, under Ricardos, was to take the offensive at Perpignan,

At the Battle of Sans Culottes Camp (5 February 1794) Caro, after gaining some initial success in his advance across the border into France, including the capture of two of the French outposts along the Pyrenees, was forced to retreat, in good order, by the French force led by General Muller.

Having travelled to Madrid to request, unsuccessfully, reinforcements, on his return to the front he was faced with an even larger French force which he managed to fend off at La Rhune (26 March 1794). The following April, he launched an attack from the Valley of Baztán Valley and Roncesvalles, setting fire to over four hundred cabins and houses in Arnéguy and Ondarrola, in reprisal for the burning of Valcarlos.

In the first week of June, Muller's French troops launched attacks at Berderitz, on the mountain passes at Izpegui and Amaiur-Maya and at Roncesvalles, but was repelled and towards the end of the month, Caro made a counterattack which he was forced to suspend and then withdraw back to his lines. Returning to Madrid at the beginning of the following month to demand reinforcements, reason for which he resigned his command, being substituted by Lieutenant general Martín Álvarez de Sotomayor, the Count of Colomera.

He came out of retirement in 1801, when he was appointed captain general of Valencia. He was promoted to Captain general of the Army, Spain's highest military rank, at the end of 1802.