Introduction to the campaign in North Spain

Campaign areas of Spain

There are two campaign areas in Spain

North – 4^th French army v Anglo/Portuguese army

South – 5^th French army v Spanish army

This map shows the location of each army at the start of the campaign

North Spain

There are three regions in north Spain

But unlike Germany, the French do not have a secure rear area

All of Spain is in revolt against the French, who only control the area they occupy

Fourth French army are in Madrid region

The Anglo/Portuguese army is in Oporto region

Madrid Region

This is the region where the campaign will be fought

 

There are nine military districts in the region.  

Each campaign phase will take place in one region

 

At the start of the campaign Fourth French army is in Burgos district

The Anglo/Portuguese army is in Salamanca district

The first campaign phase will be Valladolid district       

Fourth French Army

Marshal Soult

7^th French corps

8^th French corps

13^th Polish corps

16^th Italian corps

21^st French corps

22^nd Polish corps

3^rd Reserve corps

There is a detailed order of battle at Label 41

Anglo-Portuguese Army

Duke of Wellington

1^st British corps

2^nd British corps

3^rd British corps

4^th British corps

5^th British corps

6^th British corps

Spanish militia

There is a detailed order of battle at Label 42

Campaign Diary

1 February 1813 - Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and Spain declared war on France

1 February 1813 - Napoleon ordered the transfer of 50% of the veteran troops in Spain to north Germany.  There they would form the cadres of the newly created Army of Germany.   These troops would be replaced by an equal number of conscripts to maintain the number of troops serving in Spain.

20 February 1813 - Anglo/Portuguese army operational in Oporto Region

28 February 1813 - Fourth French army operational in Burgos Region

22 March 1813 – Start of Valladolid campaign phase

   

Reference

The campaign diary contains comprehensive details of the whole campaign.   The labels on the right are an index to various parts of the campaign.

 

01 - Introduction to the1813 campaign

02 - Five campaign areas

40 - Introduction to the campaign in northern Spain

41 – 4^th French Army order of battle

42 – Anglo/Portuguese Army order of battle

43 - Daily diary for the campaign in northern Spain

44 - Battle reports of all battles fought in northern Spain

45 - Summary of campaign in northern Spain