A large-scale offensive launched^[1] on 25 July 1813 by Marshal Soult from the Pyrenees region on Napoleon’s order, in the hope of relieving French garrisons under siege at Pamplona and San Sebastian. After initial success the offensive ground to a haul in face of increased allied resistance, Marshal Soult abandoned the offensive on 2 August and headed toward France, having failed to relieve either garrison. Combatants Spain United Kingdom Portugal French Empire The Peninsular War was a major conflict during the Napoleonic Wars, fought on the Iberian Peninsula by an alliance of Spain, Portugal, and Britain against the Napoleonic French Empire. ... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (215th in leap years), with 151 days remaining. ... 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult, duc de Dalmatie (March 29, 1769 – November 26, 1851) was a French general and statesman, named Marshal of France in 1804. ... Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1 May 1769–14 September 1852) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and statesman, widely considered one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century. ... Combatants Spain United Kingdom Portugal French Empire The Peninsular War was a major conflict during the Napoleonic Wars, fought on the Iberian Peninsula by an alliance of Spain, Portugal, and Britain against the Napoleonic French Empire. ... Battle of Fuengirola was one of the battles of the Peninsular War. ... The Battle of Barrosa took place on March 5, 1811 between Anglo-Spanish and French forces as part of the Peninsular war. ... The Battle of Fuentes de Onoro was fought on May 3 - 5, 1811 and resulted in an undecided battle between French troops under Marshall André Masséna and British under Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. ... Combatants Spain Portugal Britain France Duchy of Warsaw Commanders William Beresford Joaquin Blake Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult Strength 10,000 British 10,000 Portuguese 13,000 Spanish 38 guns 23,000 infantry 4,000 cavalry 40 guns Casualties 5,916 dead or wounded[2] 5,936 dead or wounded... Combatants United Kingdom Portugal France Commanders Sir Arthur Wellesley General Philippon Strength 25,000 men 5,000 men Casualties 4,800 casualties Unknown Between March 16 and April 6, 1812, the Spanish city of Badajoz was besieged by an Anglo-Portuguese army under the command of Sir Arthur Wellesley, finally... The Battle of Salamanca was fought among the Arapiles hills near Salamanca in Spain on July 22, 1812, and resulted in an Anglo-Portuguese tactical victory under Lord Wellington against the French under marshal Marmont. ... The Battle of Vitoria was fought on June 21, 1813 during the Peninsular War, between 78,000 British, Portuguese and Spanish troops, with 96 guns, under the Marquis of Wellington, and 58,000 French with 153 guns under King Joseph Bonaparte and Marshal Jourdan. ... The Battle of Sorauren was fought in late July of 1813 between French forces and the combined forces of Great Britain and Portugal. ... 10th November 1813 The Battle of Nivelle occurred very near the end of the Peninsular War which spanned from 1808 to 1814. ... The Battle of Orthez was fought on February 27, 1814, between the First French Empire and the forces of the Allies. ... The battle of Toulouse, fought on April 10, 1814, was one of the final battles of the Napoleonic Wars, although its official classification is disputed as the battle occurred four days after Napoleons surrender of the French Empire to the nations of the Sixth Coalition. ... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult, duc de Dalmatie (March 29, 1769 – November 26, 1851) was a French general and statesman, named Marshal of France in 1804. ... Central Pyrenees. ... For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ... Pamplona (Basque: Iruñea or Iruña) is the capital city of Navarre, Spain. ... Geography > Europe > Spain > Basque Country > Guipúzcoa San Sebastián with sailboats Statue of Jesus on Urgull Mountain San Sebastián (Donostia in Basque) is the capital city of the province of Guipúzcoa, in the Spanish autonomous community of Basque Country. ... August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (215th in leap years), with 151 days remaining. ...

Background

Marshal Soult consolidated the remnants of four armies into a single force of 80,000 troops^[2]. Marshal Soult ordered General d’Erlon commanding one corps (21,000 men)^[3] to attack and secure the Maya Pass. General Reille was ordered by Marshal Soult to attack and secure the Roncesvalles Pass with two corps (40,000 men)^[4]. Marshal Soult’s plan was to relieve the siege at Pamplona first, then swing the army westward and relieve the siege at San Sebastian. dErlon, 1815 Jean-Baptiste Drouet, Comte dErlon (July 29, 1765-January 25, 1844) was a marshal of France and a soldier in Napoleons Army. ... Honoré Charles Michel Joseph Reille (September 1, 1775 - March 4, 1860) was a Marshal of France, born in Antibes. ...

Battle

The surprise offensive opened on 25 July 1813. The Passes of Maya and Roncesvalles were both weakly held by the allies spread over a 50-mile front from Pamplona to the sea. Generals Picton and Cole were forced from Roncesvalles Pass and General Hill was forced from Maya Pass. A push on 27 July from Ronecesvalls Pass by troops personally commanded by Marshal Soult, got within 10-miles of Pamplona^[5]. However, British and Portuguese forces held fast and made a stand near the village of Sorauren. Wellington joined the 60,000^[6] man British and Portuguese force; and a battle resulted on the 28 July and again on the 30 July (see Battle of Sorauren) when Marshal Soult tried to defeat allied forces to the west. On 2 August Marshal Soult abandoned his offensive and headed toward France. Sir Thomas Picton (August, 1758 – June 18, 1815) was a British military leader who fought in a number of campaigns for Britain and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General. ... Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill (1772 - 1842) was a soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars as a subordinate to the Duke of Wellington. ... Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (c. ... The Battle of Sorauren was fought in late July of 1813 between French forces and the combined forces of Great Britain and Portugal. ...

Conclusion

Marshal Soult failed to relieve the siege at San Sebastian and Pamplona, and suffered about 13,000 casualties^[7], his army had to withdraw to French soil weakened and demoralized.

Footnotes

1. ^ Chandler., p.351. Recognizes the ‘battle’ as an offensive.
2. ^ Fisher and Fremont-Barnes., p.235.
3. ^ Fisher and Fremont-Barnes., p.235.
4. ^ Fisher and Fremont-Barnes., p.235.
5. ^ Esdaile, C., p.462
6. ^ Fisher and Fremont-Barnes., p.235.
7. ^ Fisher and Fremont-Barnes., p.235.

References

• Chandler, D. Dictionary of the Napoleonic wars. Wordsworth editions, 1999.
• Esdaile, C. The Peninsular War: A new History. Penguin Books, 2003.
• Fisher, T. and Fremont-Barnes, G. The Napoleonic Wars: The Rise and Fall of an Empire. Osprey Pub., 2004.

External Links

• The French Army 1600-1900