Prelude
In the early autumn of 1811 the French had still been in a position to take the initiative in the Kingdom of Spain, given that they had sufficient resources simultaneously to contain the Anglo-Portuguese, hold their own in la guerrilla, and embark on the conquest of still more Patriot territory. There having been no major challenge to Napoleon since the War of the Fifth Coalition, for some considerable time this had been no problem, the troops already in Spain having been kept up to strength, and many fresh units sent to join them. Implicit in this situation was the absence of any other employment that would require an overwhelming effort on the part of the emperor's soldiers, but in the autumn of 1811 just such a demand suddenly emerged. Ever since 1808 relations between Napoleon and Alexander I of Russia had been frowning frostier by the month and matters now reached a point that the former had decided to go to war. Very soon, then, orders were going out for the grande armée to concentrate in East Prussia and the Grand Duchy of Warsaw. For josefino Spain the implications were very serious. Thus, by January 1812 all troops of the Imperial Guard (Napoleon I) and units of the Army of the Duchy of Warsaw serving across the Pyrenees were called back to France. These troops amounting to well over 25,000, a great hole was ton in the armies defending Joseph Bonaparte. Worst hit was Jean-Marie Dorsenne who lost two full infantry divisions and the best part of his cavalry, whilst Louis-Gabriel Suchet and Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult each lost some 6,000.
Read more about this topic: Siege Of Badajoz (1812)
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