16 September 1813 – Southern Germany – Ratisbon Campaign

 

1813 Campaign Map

This is a fictional campaign loosely based on the 1813 campaign
It started in April 2009 and consists of stand alone campaign phases
Each phase is similar in size to the Waterloo campaign
This is the 93rd phase, each of which is shown on the above map
There have been six major adjustments to the campaign
The following maps are used for the current adjustment, which started in June 2020

Map of Europe

There are five campaign areas in Europe
North Germany – French v Prussian
Central Germany – French v Russians
Southern Germany – French v Austrians
North Spain – French v British
South Spain – French v Spanish

This is the campaign phase 25
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Ratisbon is the white star

Map of Germany

There are three campaign areas in Germany
North Germany – First French and Prussian Armies
Central Germany – Second French and Russian Armies
South Germany – Third French and Austrian Armies

This is the 15th campaign phase to be fought in Germany
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Ratisbon is the white star

Map of South Germany

There are three regions in South Germany
Strasbourg Region – French rear area
Munich Region – campaign area
Vienna Region – Prussian rear area

This is the fifth campaign phase to be fought in South Germany
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Ratisbon is the white star

Map of Munich Region

There are nine districts in Munich Region
There have been 25 battles fought in this region
The French have won11 and the Austrians 14
Each star shows the location of a battle fought
The white star shows Ratisbon

Campaign Map

The Ingolstadt campaign is fought between the cities of Nuremberg and Ingolstadt
The French Army of Southern Germany is deployed to the left of the district border
The Austrian Army is deployed to the right of the district border
The French objective is to take and hold the city of Ratisbon

Typical Bavarian corps

Each corps has 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery

The French Army of Southern Germany- Marshal Massena

19th Bavarian corps
20th Bavarian corps
21st Bavarian corps
22nd Bavarian corps
23rd Bavarian corps
24th Baden corps
25th Bavarian corps
26th Bavarian corps
27th Baden corps

144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Typical Austrian corps

Each corps has 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery


Austrian Army - General Schwartzenberg
1st Austrian corps
2nd Austrian corps
3rd Austrian corps
4th Austrian corps
5th Austrian corps
6th Austrian corps
7th Austrian corps
8th Austrian corps
9th Austrian corps

144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Campaign Diary
01 Feb 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France
01 Feb 1813 Formation of Third French army in Munich region
25 Feb 1813 Third French army declared operational
28 Feb 1813 Austrians moved into the Munich region
30 Mar 1813 Start of Branau campaign phase
11 Apr 1813 Austrians win Branau phase
20 May 1813 Start of Kufstein campaign phase
30 May 1813 French win Kufstein campaign phase
03 Jul 1 813 Start of Landshut phase
10 Jul 1813 Austrians win Landshut phase
12 Aug 1813 Start of Ingolstadt phase
18 Aug 1813 French win Ingolstadt phase
16 Sep 1813 Start of Ratisbon 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
30 - Introduction to the campaign in Southern Germany
31 – French Army order of battle
32 - Austrian Army order of battle
33 - Daily diary for the campaign in Southern Germany
34 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Southern Germany
35 - Summary of campaign in Southern Germany

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

15 September 1813 – Southern Spain – End of Cordoba Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

The Spanish won the first two battles at Montoro and Espinal, but suffered heavy casualties which caused them to retreat.

The French won the third battle at Muriano, which secured the border area and allowed them to advance towards the campaign objective of  Cordoba.

They also won the fourth battle at El Carpio, which forced the 1^st Spanish army to retreat and abandon the campaign.   The French now held the northern part of Cordoba region.

The fifth battle was fought at Montilla in the south.   The Spanish won, and pursued 15^th French army back to Baena.   This was a serious set back for Marshal Suchet as it exposed his southern flank.   He must decide on a prompt attack on Cordoba to end the campaign before General Giron could march north.

The sixth battle was for possession of Cordoba, which was the military base for the Spanish Army of the South.   It  was also the campaign objective.   If the French lost they would have to retreat back into Jean region.   This was the hardest fought battle of the campaign, and the outcome was in doubt right to nightfall.   For a time it looked like the Spanish would win, but their luck deserted them as night fell.  

The French took Cordoba and won the campaign.

The campaign started on 9 January and ended on 28 April 2026

A new order of battle was introduced for this campaign, giving the Spanish four corps in each army against three in the French armies.  This proved too great an advantage for the Spanish, and the order of battle was adjusted after three battles.

The French and Spanish would have three armies of three corps.   However each French army would have to detach three infantry and one cavalry brigades to guard their lines of supply.   This would leave the Spanish with 12 infantry brigades in each army and the French 9 infantry brigades.   Both sides would have three corps artillery and two cavalry brigades.   The cavalry and artillery would all be trained.   The French would have slightly better trained infantry, particularly grenadier and light brigades.

Seville Region

This map shows the location of the 35 battles fought in the Seville Region since the Sixth campaign bagan in June 2020.   The French won 20 and the Spanish 15.

15 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 7

 

French occupy Cordoba and win campaign
13 French Army occupy Muriano
14 French Army occupy Cordoba
15 French Army occupy Espinal

Spanish abandon Cordoba and lose campaign
1 Spanish Army withdraw from campaign
2 Spanish Army withdraw from campaign
3 Spanish Army retreat to Montilla