Summary of Southern Spain Campaign – 15 September 1813

 

Regional areas of Southern Spain

There are three regions in Southern Spain
Lisbon region is a safe rear area for the Spanish army
Valencia region is the rear area for the Fifth French army
Seville region is the disputed area between them

The main French depot is at Valencia
The main Spanish depot is at Seville

French Strategy in Spain
King Joseph is the commander in chief of all French troops in Spain.
However he commands no respect from either his army commanders
Both Soult and Suchet are determined to remain independent commanders
Suchet wants to invade southern Spain and become King of Andalusia
Soult wants to defeat Wellington and become King of Portugal

All three agree that Soult will drive Wellington out of Spain
Suchet will invade Andalusia and take Seville
He will then detach two of his four corps to support Soult
Soult will invade Portugal and drive Wellington out of the Peninsula

Anglo-Spanish Strategy in Spain
Wellington is the commander in chief of all allied troops in the Peninsula
However all Spanish generals deeply resent this appointment
Giron is determined to take Madrid and become the hero of Spain
Wellington is well aware that he cannot rely on his Spanish generals
To defeat the French he must first take Madrid
To do so the Spanish army must hold southern Spain to pin Suchet
Most importantly the Spanish must avoid a comprehensive defeat
This would allow both French armies to concentrate against Wellington

Diary of North Spain Campaign

01 Feb 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and Spain declared war on France
04 Feb 1813 Spanish army operational n Saville region
28 Feb 1813 Fifth French army operational in Madrid Region
09 Mar 1813 Start of Toledo campaign phase
13 Mar 1813 Spanish win Toledo campaign phase
20 Apr1813 Start of Cuidad Real campaign phase
30 Apr 1813 French win Cuidad Real campaign phase
08 Jun 1813 Start of Merida campaign phase
15 Jun 1813 Spanish win Merida campaign phase
02 Aug 1813 Start of Jean campaign phase
11 Aug 1813 French win Jean campaign phase
09 Sep 1813 Start of Cordoba campaign phase
15 Sep 1813 French win Cordoba 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
50 - Introduction to the campaign in Southern Spain
51 - 5th French Army order of battle
52 - Spanish Army order of battle
53 - Daily diary for the campaign in Southern Spain
54 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Southern Spain
55 - Summary of campaign in Southern Spain

13 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 5

 

French attack Montilla
13 French Army occupy Muriano
14 French Army regroup at El Carpio
15 French Army attack Montilla

Spanish defend Montilla
1 Spanish Army withdraw from campaign
2 Spanish Army regroup at Cordoba
3 Spanish Army defend Montilla

Summary of Southern Spain Campaign – 11 August 1813

 

Regional areas of Southern Spain

There are three regions in Southern Spain
Lisbon region is a safe rear area for the Spanish army
Valencia region is the rear area for the Fifth French army
Seville region is the disputed area between them

The main French depot is at Valencia
The main Spanish depot is at Seville

French Strategy in Spain

King Joseph is the commander in chief of all French troops in Spain.
However he commands no respect from either his army commanders
Both Soult and Suchet are determined to remain independent commanders
Suchet wants to invade southern Spain and become King of Andalusia
Soult wants to defeat Wellington and become King of Portugal

All three agree that Soult will drive Wellington out of Spain
Suchet will invade Andalusia and take Seville
He will then detach two of his four corps to support Soult
Soult will invade Portugal and drive Wellington out of the Peninsula

Anglo-Spanish Strategy in Spain

Wellington is the commander in chief of all allied troops in the Peninsula
However all Spanish generals deeply resent this appointment
Giron is determined to take Madrid and become the hero of Spain

Wellington is well aware that he cannot rely on his Spanish generals
To defat the French he must first take Madrid
To do so the Spanish army must hold southern Spain to pin Suchet
Most importantly the Spanish must avoid a comprehensive defeat
This would allow both French armies to concentrate against Wellington

Diary of North Spain Campaign

01 February 1813 - Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and Spain declared war on France
04 February 1813 - Spanish army operational n Saville region
28 February 1813 - Fifth French army operational in Madrid Region
09 March 1813 - Start of Toledo campaign phase
13 March 1813 - Spanish win Toledo campaign phase
20 April 1813 - Start of Cuidad Real campaign phase
30 April 1813 - French win Cuidad Real campaign phase
08 June 1813 - Start of Merida campaign phase
15 June 1813 - Spanish win Merida campaign phase
02 August 1813 - Start of Jean campaign phase
11 August 1813 French win Jean 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
50 - Introduction to the campaign in Southern Spain
51 - 5th French Army order of battle
52 - Spanish Army order of battle
53 - Daily diary for the campaign in Southern Spain
54 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Southern Spain
55 - Summary of campaign in Southern Spain

Summary of Southern Spain Campaign – 15 June 1813

Regional areas of Southern Spain

There are three regions in Southern Spain

Lisbon region is a safe rear area for the Spanish army

Valencia region is the rear area for the Fifth French army

Seville region is the disputed area between them

 

The main French depot is at Valencia

The main Spanish depot is at Seville

 

French Strategy in Spain

King Joseph is the commander in chief of all French troops in Spain.

However he commands no respect from either his army commanders

Both Soult and Suchet are determined to remain independent commanders

Suchet wants to invade southern Spain and become King of Andalusia

Soult wants to defeat Wellington and become King of Portugal

 

All three agree that Soult will drive Wellington out of Spain

Suchet will invade Andalusia and take Seville

He will then detach two of his four corps to support Soult

Soult will invade Portugal and drive Wellington out of the Peninsula

 

Anglo-Spanish Strategy in Spain

Wellington is the commander in chief of all allied troops in the Peninsula

However all Spanish generals deeply resent this appointment

Giron is determined to take Madrid and become the hero of Spain

 

Wellington is well aware that he cannot rely on his Spanish generals

To defeat the French he must first take Madrid

To do so the Spanish army must hold southern Spain to pin Suchet

Most importantly the Spanish must avoid a comprehensive defeat

This would allow both French armies to concentrate against Wellington

         

Diary of North Spain Campaign

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

04 February 1813    Spanish army operational n Saville region

28 February 1813    Fifth French army operational in Madrid Region

09 March 1813        Start of Toledo campaign phase

13 March 1813        Spanish win Toledo campaign phase

20 April 1813           Start of Cuidad Real campaign phase

30 April 1813           French win Cuidad Real campaign phase         

08 June 1813          Start of Merida campaign phase

15 June 1813          Spanish win Merida 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

50 - Introduction to the campaign in Southern Spain

51 - 5^th French Army order of battle

52 - Spanish Army order of battle

53 - Daily diary for the campaign in Southern Spain

54 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Southern Spain

55 - Summary of campaign in Southern Spain

 

Summary of Southern Spain Campaign – 30 April 1813

Regional areas of Southern Spain

There are three regions in Southern Spain

Lisbon region is a safe rear area for the Spanish army

Valencia region is the rear area for the Fifth French army

Seville region is the disputed area between them

The main French depot is at Valencia

The main Spanish depot is at Seville

French Strategy in Spain

King Joseph is the commander in chief of all French troops in Spain.

However he commands no respect from either his army commanders

Both Soult and Suchet are determined to remain independent commanders

Suchet wants to invade southern Spain and become King of Andalusia

Soult wants to defeat Wellington and become King of Portugal

 

All three agree that Soult will drive Wellington out of Spain

Suchet will invade Andalusia and take Seville

He will then detach two of his four corps to support Soult

Soult will invade Portugal and drive Wellington out of the Peninsula

 

Anglo-Spanish Strategy in Spain

Wellington is the commander in chief of all allied troops in the Peninsula

However all Spanish generals deeply resent this appointment

Giron is determined to take Madrid and become the hero of Spain

 

Wellington is well aware that he cannot rely on his Spanish generals

To defeat the French he must first take Madrid

To do so the Spanish army must hold southern Spain to pin Suchet

Most importantly the Spanish must avoid a comprehensive defeat

This would allow both French armies to concentrate against Wellington

         

Diary of North Spain Campaign

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

04 February 1813    Spanish army operational n Saville region

28 February 1813    Fifth French army operational in Madrid Region

09 March 1813        Start of Toledo campaign phase

13 March 1813        Spanish win Toledo campaign phase

20 April 1813           Start of Cuidad Real campaign phase

30 April 1813           French win Cuidad Real 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

50 - Introduction to the campaign in Southern Spain

51 - 5^th French Army order of battle

52 - Spanish Army order of battle

53 - Daily diary for the campaign in Southern Spain

54 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Southern Spain

55 - Summary of campaign in Southern Spain

Summary of Southern Spain Campaign

 

Regional areas of Southern Spain

There are three regions in Southern 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

Fifth French army are in Madrid (off map top centre)

This is also their main depot

The Spanish army is in Toledo

Their main depot is in Seville

French Strategy in Spain

King Joseph is the commander in chief of all French troops in Spain.

However he commands no respect from either his army commanders

Both Soult and Suchet are determined to remain independent commanders

Suchet wants to invade southern Spain and become King of Andalusia

Soult wants to defeat Wellington and become King of Portugal

All three agree that Soult will drive Wellington out of Spain

Suchet will invade Andalusia and take Seville

He will then detach two of his four corps to support Soult

Soult will invade Portugal and drive Wellington out of the Peninsula

 

Anglo-Spanish Strategy in Spain

Wellington is the commander in chief of all allied troops in the Peninsula

However all Spanish generals deeply resent this appointment

Giron is determined to take Madrid and become the hero of Spain

 

Wellington is well aware that he cannot rely on his Spanish generals

To defeat the French he must first take Madrid

To do so the Spanish army must hold southern Spain to pin Suchet

Most importantly the Spanish must avoid a comprehensive defeat

This would allow both French armies to concentrate against Wellington

         

Diary of North Spain Campaign

The French Grand Army was destroyed during the 1812 Russian campaign

Napoleon had to create a new army to fight the 1813 campaign

 

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

 

10 January 1813 - The Russian army concentrated in the Dresden region

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 Grande Armee of Germany.   These troops would be replaced by an equal number of conscripts to maintain the number of troops serving in Spain.

4 February 1813 - Spanish army in Saville Region

 

20 February 1813 -  Anglo/Portguese army in Oporto Region

 

28 February 1813 - Fourth French army operational in Burgos Region

 

3 March 1813 - Fifth French army operational in Madrid Regi

 

9 March 1813 – Start of Toledo campaign phase

Toledo Campaign – 9 to 13 March 1813

 Suchet won two of the four battles, but lost the two important ones.

 

He won the first two, but needed the third to establish a base for the invasion of Andalusia.   The Spanish victory at Bargas forced 7^th corps to retreat to Madrid.

The failure to take Bargas left just one French corps against four Spanish corps.

 

Suchet was forced to abandon his invasion and concede the victory to Giron.

The campaign started on 14 August 2020 and ended on 31 August 2020

 

This unusual result was largely due to my setting up the initial deployments wrong.   I should have started the campaign with the French in the three northern towns.   The campaign would then have been fought for the three centre towns.  This would allow both armies space to retreat, rally and regroup if necessary

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

50 - Introduction to the campaign in Southern Spain

51 - 5^th French Army order of battle

52 - Spanish Army order of battle

53 - Daily diary for the campaign in Southern Spain

54 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Southern Spain

55 - Summary of campaign in Southern Spain

 

20 September 1813 – Summary of Campaign in Central Spain

Battles fought in Central Spain

Campaign History

By the end of January most of the experienced French troops had been withdrawn from Spain to form the new Grand Army in Germany.   On 1 February 1813 Marshal Suchet was given command of all the remaining troops in Southern Spain.  He was ordered to abandon Seville and withdraw all the scattered garrisons to Madrid.

General Giron commanded all Spanish troops south of Madrid.   As the French withdrew he ordered his army to concentrate at Badajoz.  It took two weeks for them to do so.   He ordered an immediate advance on Madrid

On 28 February 1813 the Spanish Army reached Merida.   Their slow march allowed the Suchet to reorganize his Army and to march them west to meet the Spanish.   As the Spanish entered Merida, his army arrived at Almarez. 

5 March 1813 – Almarez Campaign.  Marshal Suchet opened the campaign by defeating the Spanish at Almarez and followed that by a second victory at Naval Moral.   The Spanish regrouped and countered by winning at Serrejon and Almarez.  Suchet retreated towards Madrid, allowing Giron to claim a Spanish campaign victory.

18 March 1813 – Talavera Campaign.   The Spanish dominated this campaign, winning both battles at Talavera and a draw at Las Vantas.    The campaign ended in a draw with the Armistice.

5 April 1813 – Armistice.   Despite their run of victories the Spanish Army had  dispersed due to battle casualties and lack of supplies.   They accepted the cease fire in order to reorganise their field army.   It was agreed that the Spanish would concentrate at Aranjuez and the French retreat to Toledo.

12 April 1813 – Toledo Campaign.   The French advance was relentless and the Spanish could do little to delay it.   The guerrilla bands caused some problems for the lines of communication and supply, and even captured two garrisons.   But Suchet ignored his lack of supplies and attacked Moncejon.   The Spanish army was broken and retreated.

4 June 1813 – Cuidad Real Campaign.   The Spanish were deployed north of the river Guadiana, with their main supply base in Cuidad Real just south of that river.   The French advanced over a wide area to prevent the Spanish from retreating and concentrating all of their army south of the river.   The French won the first two battles, but lost the third.  The Spanish retreated south of the river.   Despite long supply lines under attack from guerrilla bands, Suchet ordered his army to attack the defended river line.  He won the fourth battle and the campaign.   Once more the Spanish army was forced to retreat.

17 July 1813 – Linares Campaign.   The French concentrated at Probete and advanced south along three roads.  They won the first three battles and occupied the town of Baylen.   As they occupied towns the Spanish militia garrison fled to the mountains and became guerrilla bands.  As the French lines of supply grew longer, they came under attack from the guerrilla.   Suchet was forced to send one of his four corps back to defeat the guerrilla and reopen his lines of supply.   Giron immediately attacked and took El Hoyo and then Baylen.   Suchet was forced to retreat to Probate and abandon his advance.   The Spanish had won the campaign.

7 September 1813 – Albacete Campaign.   The French concentrated at Albacete and advanced south along three roads, with their fourth corps in reserve.   They won the battles of Riopar and Elda, but allowed the defeated Spanish to retreat.   Once more the guerrilla played a major part in the campaign.  As the French advanced south, they attacked their depots in the north.  This delayed the French attack on Molina, which they also won.   The final battle at Hellin was hard fought and really a draw.   But the Spanish retreated to resupply and the French declared a victory.   The French won the campaign.

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 the 1813 campaign

02 - the five campaign areas

50 - introduction to the campaign in Central Spain

53 - daily diary for the campaign in Central Spain

54 - battle reports of all battles fought in Central Spain

30 July 1813 – Summary of Campaign in Southern Spain

Battles fought in Southern Spain

Campaign History

By the end of January most of the experienced French troops had been withdrawn from Spain to form the new Grand Army in Germany.   On 1 February 1813 Marshal Suchet was given command of all the remaining troops in Southern Spain.  He was ordered to abandon Seville and withdraw all the scattered garrisons to Madrid.

General Giron commanded all Spanish troops south of Madrid.   As the French withdrew he ordered his army to concentrate at Badajoz.  It took two weeks for them to do so.   He ordered an immediate advance on Madrid

On 28 February 1813 the Spanish Army reached Merida.   Their slow march allowed the Suchet to reorganize his Army and to march them west to meet the Spanish.   As the Spanish entered Merida, his army arrived at Almarez. 

5 March 1813 – Almarez Campaign.  Marshal Suchet opened the campaign by defeating the Spanish at Almarez and followed that by a second victory at Naval Moral.   The Spanish regrouped and countered by winning at Serrejon and Almarez.  Suchet retreated towards Madrid, allowing Giron to claim a Spanish campaign victory.

18 March 1813 – Talavera Campaign.   The Spanish dominated this campaign, winning both battles at Talavera and a draw at Las Vantas.    The campaign ended in a draw with the Armistice.

5 April 1813 – Armistice.   Despite their run of victories the Spanish Army had  dispersed due to battle casualties and lack of supplies.   They accepted the cease fire in order to reorganise their field army.   It was agreed that the Spanish would concentrate at Aranjuez and the French retreat to Toledo.

12 April 1813 – Toledo Campaign.   The French advance was relentless and the Spanish could do little to delay it.   The guerrilla bands caused some problems for the lines of communication and supply, and even captured two garrisons.   But Suchet ignored his lack of supplies and attacked Moncejon.   The Spanish army was broken and retreated.

4 June 1813 – Cuidad Real Campaign.   The Spanish were deployed north of the river Guadiana, with their main supply base in Cuidad Real just south of that river.   The French advanced over a wide area to prevent the Spanish from retreating and concentrating all of their army south of the river.   The French won the first two battles, but lost the third.  The Spanish retreated south of the river.   Despite long supply lines under attack from guerrilla bands, Suchet ordered his army to attack the defended river line.  He won the fourth battle and the campaign.   Once more the Spanish army was forced to retreat.

17 July 1813 – Linares Campaign.   The French concentrated at Probete and advanced south along three roads.  They won the first three battles and occupied the town of Baylen.   As they occupied towns the Spanish militia garrison fled to the mountains and became guerrilla bands.  As the French lines of supply grew longer, they came under attack from the guerrilla.   Suchet was forced to send one of his four corps back to defeat the guerrilla and reopen his lines of supply.   Giron immediately attacked and took El Hoyo and then Baylen.   Suchet was forced to retreat to Probate and abandon his advance.   The Spanish had won the campaign.

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 the 1813 campaign

02 - the five campaign areas

50 - introduction to the campaign in Southern Spain

53 - daily diary for the campaign in Southern Spain

54 - battle reports of all battles fought in Southern Spain