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

14 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 6

 

French attack Cordoba
13 French Army regroup at Muriano
14 French Army attack Cordoba
15 French Army retreat to Baena

Spanish defend Cordoba
1 Spanish Army withdraw from camaign
2 Spanish Army defend Cordoba
3 Spanish Army occupy Espinar

12 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 4

 

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

Spanish defend Muriano
1 Spanish Army defend Muriano
2 Spanish Army retreat to Cordoba
3 Spanish Army regroup at Montilla

11 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 3

 

French occupy Espinal
13 French Army regroup at Montoro
14 French Army attack El Carpio
15 French Army occupy Espinal

Spanish win battle of Espinal
1 Spanish Army regroup at Muriano
2 Spanish Army defend El Carpio
3 Spanish Army retreat to Montilla

10 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 2

French attack Espinal
13 French Army occupy Montoro
14 French Army observe El Carpio
15 French Army attack Espinal

Spanish win battle of Montoro
1 Spanish Army retreat to Muriano
2 Spanish Army hold El Carpio
3 Spanish Army hold Espinal

9 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 1

French attack Montoro
13 French Army attack Montoro
14 French Army observe El Carpio
15 French Army observe Espinal

Spanish hold Cordova-Jean border
1 Spanish Army hold Montoro
2 Spanish Army hold El Carpio
3 Spanish Army hold Espinal

11 August 1813 – Southern Spain – End of Jean Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

The French won the first three battles of the campaign, forcing the Spanish army to retreat west to Linares, Jean and Alcaudette.

To pursue the retreating Spanish, Suchet had to detach infantry and cavalry brigades to secure his lines of supply. Despite this he lost many supplies to guerrilla attacks.

As Suchet struggled to secure his lines of supply, the Spanish counter attacked. They won the next four battles, including the city of Jean.

Suchet won the next battle at Linares, but he was down to one days supplies and was tempted to retreat. Instead he ordered a desperate attack on Martos, which he won and with it the campaign.

The campaign started on 26 September and ended on 7 February 2025

This was the first campaign to last nine days, earlier ones had only lasted six days. This was to allow the Spanish to counter attack after the French had taken Jean, which was the campaign objective. To do so the French had to expend almost all of their supplies, and detach the maximum number of infantry and cavalry brigades to secure their lines of supply. They would be at their weakest, and the Spanish at their strongest. Despite this the French won the final two battles, and also the campaign.

Seville Region

This map shows the location of the 29 battles fought in the Seville Region since the Sixth campaign bagan in June 2020. The French won 17 and the Spanish 12.

11 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 10

 

Main French depot at Hellin – 0 days supplies

French have no more reserve supplies
French occupy Martos
French have defeated Spanish army
Spanish general retreat

13th French army – resupply and secure Linares
14th French army – occupy Martos
15th French army – regroup and resupply at Mortalalla

1st Spanish army – retreat to Andjuar
2nd Spanish army – retreat off map
3rd Spanish army – retreat to Alcaudete

Guerrilla cease active operations

10 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 9

 

Main French depot at Hellin – 0 days supplies

French have no more reserve supplies
French occupy Linares
French attack Martos

Spanish retreat to Andjuar
Spanish attack Jean
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – occupy Linares
14th French army – attack Martos
15th French army – regroup and resupply at Mortalalla

1st Spanish army – retreat to Andjuar
2nd Spanish army – attack Jean
3rd Spanish army – regroup and resupply at Huelma

4 guerrilla attack convoy Tobarra to Riopar – fail no casualties
8 guerrilla attack convoy Elche to Jodar – fail no casualties
15 guerrilla attack convoy Hellin to Minateda – fail 10% casualties

9 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 8

Main French depot at Hellin – 9 days supplies

Spanish occupy Huelma
Spanish attack Ubeda

French retreat to Mortalalla
French attack Linares

Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – attack Linares
14th French army – regroup and resupply at Jean
15th French army – retreat to Mortalalla

1st Spanish army – attack Ubeda
2nd Spanish army – regroup and resupply at Martos
3rd Spanish army – occupy Heulma

10 guerrilla attack convoy Hellin to Tobarra – fail no casualties

8 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 7

Main French depot at Hellin – 18 days supplies

French occupy Jean
Spanish attack Huelma
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – regroup and resupply at Ubeda
14th French army – occupy Jean
15th French army – defend Huelma

1st Spanish army – regroup and resupply at Linares
2nd Spanish army – retreat to Martos
3rd Spanish army – attack Heulma

5 guerrilla attack convoy Hellin to Tobarra – fail no casualties
9 guerrilla attack convoy Hellin to Elche – fail no casualties
13 guerrilla attack convoy Mortalalla to Huelma – fail no casualties

7 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 6

 

Main French depot at Hellin – 30 days supplies

French attack Jean
No Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – retreat to Ubeda
14th French army – attack Jean
15th French army – resupply at Huelma

1st Spanish army – retreat to Linares
2nd Spanish army – battle of Jean
3rd Spanish army - resupply at Alcaudete

Guerrilla brigades have no opportunity to attack French convoys

6 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 5

Main French depot at Hellin – 36 days supplies

French attack Linares
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – attack Linares
14th French army – regroup and resupply at Jodar
15th French army – rally, regroup and resupply at Huelma

1st Spanish army – defend Linares
2nd Spanish army – regroup and resupply at Jean
3rd Spanish army - rally, regroup and resupply at Alcaudete

14 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy to Mortalalla – fail and rout – guerrilla lose10%casualties
15 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy to Minateda – fail and retreat – no casualties

5 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 4

Main French depot at Hellin – 48 days supplies

French attack Alcajudete
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – rally and resupply at Ubeda
14th French army – occupy Jodar
15th French army – attack Alcaudete

1st Spanish army – rally and resupply at Linares
2nd Spanish army – retreat to Jean
3rd Spanish army - defend Alcaudete

9 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy to Elche – capture 3 supplies – escort lose10%casualties

4 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 3

Main French depot at Hellin – 60 days supplies

French attack Ubeda
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – occupy Ubeda
14th French army – attack Jodar
15th French army – rally and resupply at Huelma

1st Spanish army – retreat to Linares
2nd Spanish army – defend Jodar
3rd Spanish army - rally and resupply at Alcaudete

4 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy to Riopar – capture 6 supplies – escort lose10%casualties

3 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 2

Main French depot at Hellin – 72 days supplies

French attack Ubeda
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – attack Ubeda
14th French army – hold Elche
15th French army – occupy Huelma

1st Spanish army – defend Ubeda
2nd Spanish army – advance to border
3rd Spanish army - retreat to Alcaudete

5 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy – fail – no casualties
10 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy – fail – no casualties
14 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy – capture 3 supplies – escort lose10%casualties
15 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy – fail – no casualties

2 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 1

 

Main French depot at Hellin – 81 days supplies

The campaign opens with a surprise French attack on Huelma

13th French army – hold Riopar
14th French army – hold Elche
15th French army – attack Heulma

1st Spanish army – hold Ubeda
2nd Spanish army – hold Jodar
3rd Spanish army - defend Huelma

15 June 1813 – Southern Spain – End of Merida Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

Suchet won four of the six battles fought.

 

He won the first three, forcing the Spanish army to retreat west to Adjucen, Merida and Calamonte.

 

To pursue the retreating Spanish, Suchet had to detach more infantry brigades to protect his every lengthening lines of supply.   This was necessary because of the increased guerrilla activity, which resulted in the loss of the town of Bargas – not once but twice.

 

The French won the fourth battle to the east  of Adjucen.  However 2^nd Spanish corps occupied the city, and 13^th French army were forced to lay siege. 

 

The Spanish won at Calamonte, and also at the final critical battle of Merida.

 

By now the French were down to one or two days supplies for each corps, and the final blow was when the guerrilla captured Bargas for the second time.  This caused the collapse of the French supply system in the north. 

 

Suchet ordered his army to retreat east to resupply and regroup

 

The campaign started on 11 January and ended on 7 April 2023

 

The course of the campaign was very similar to historical campaigns in Spain.

The French armies defeated the Spanish field armies during the early part of the campaign.  However as they advanced they had to detach infantry brigades  to hold the captured towns.   The Spanish garrisons of those towns became guerrilla bands, and attacked both the lines of supply and the towns themselves.   During the latter part of the campaign the French supply system broke down, forcing Suchet to call off offensive operations and retreat to resupply and regroup.

 

Seville Region

Suchet orders his army to retreat to Toledo

 

Giron orders his army to deploy in and around Merida

15 June 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 7

French retreat to regroup and resupply

 

In the north 13^th French army abandon the siege of Adjucen and retreat to Santa Amalia

1^st guerrilla brigade occupy Bargas

4^th French brigade retreat to Toledo

The French lines of supply is cut

 

In the centre 14^th French army retreat to San Pedro

In the south 15^th French army retreat to Manchita

The Spanish have won the Merida campaign