ORDER OF BATTLE // April 9, 1812
Battle of Arlabán
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 5,000–6,500 estimated
French Empire
2,000–3,000
Medium-confidence figure
Spain
3,000–3,500
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The battle at the heights of Arlabán, fought across three fronts along the border of Álava and Guipúzcoa, represented a temporary Liberal success followed by a Carlist reversal. Liberal forces under Luis Fernández de Córdova, supported by the British Legion, French Legion, and units under Baldomero Espartero, seized both Arlabán and Legutiano before Carlist counterattacks on 18 January drove them back with significant casualties. The outcome underscored the difficulty of holding mountain terrain against determined Carlist resistance and demonstrated the limits of coordinated multi-column operations in the northern theater of the First Carlist War.
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