ORDER OF BATTLE // January 15, 1811
Battle of Pla
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 9,800 estimated
First French Empire
6,000
Medium-confidence figure
Kingdom of Spain
3,800
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of El Pla, fought near El Pla de Santa Maria north of Valls in Catalonia, was a Spanish tactical success against a French Imperial force composed of two Italian brigades under the overall command of Jacques MacDonald and Giuseppe Palombini. The Spanish division, numbering roughly 3,800 against a French column of approximately 6,000, repulsed the assault and then counterattacked to defeat both brigades. Within the broader context of the Peninsular War, the engagement demonstrated that Spanish regular forces under commanders such as Pedro Sarsfield and the Marquess of Campoverde could hold and reverse attacks by numerically superior French formations in Catalonia, a theater where French control remained persistently contested throughout the conflict.
‹ Full battle dossier