Introduction to the campaign in South 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

South 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 is in Madrid region

The Spanish army is in Seville region

Seville 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 Madrid district

The Spanish army is in Cordoba district

The first campaign phase will be Toledo district

Fifth French Army

Marshal Suchet

3^rd French corps

7^th French corps

15^th Vistula corps

16^th Italian corps

reserve corps

 

There is a detailed order of battle at Label 51

Spanish Army

General Giron

1^st Spanish corps

2^nd Spanish corps

3^rd Spanish corps

4^th Spanish corps

Spanish irregulars

 

There is a detailed order of battle at Label 52

 

Campaign Diary – working

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 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 operational n Saville region 

3 March 1813 - Fifth French army operational in Madrid Region

9 March 1813 – Start of Toledo campaign phase

13 March 1813 – Spanish win Toledo 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