Battle of Maya

Part of the Peninsular War

Date	25 July 1813
Location	Maya Pass, Navarre, Spain
Result	French victory

Belligerents

French Empire

United Kingdom

Commanders and leaders

General d'Erlon

Lieutenant-General Stewart

Strength

21,000

7,000

Casualties and losses

2,000 dead or wounded

1,347 dead or wounded

The Battle of Maya (25 July 1813) was a battle between French and British forces during the Peninsular War (1808–1814).

After Wellington's decisive defeat of King Joseph at Vitoria, he advanced to capture San Sebastián and Pamplona, the last French outposts on Spanish soil.

While Wellington concentrated his efforts on capturing the strategically important port of San Sebastián, he sent 11,000 men under the Irish-Spanish General O'Donnell to blockade Pamplona. To prevent a French counter-attack over the Pyrenees Wellington positioned General Hill's Corps over a 50-mile (80 km) front, to cover the coastal road and the main passes over the mountains.

Having rapidly rebuilt and reorganised his forces after their defeat, the French under Marshal Soult launched an attack towards Pamplona through the passes of Maya and Roncesvalles. The French force at Maya consisted of three divisions, with additional units of National Guards, around 21,000 men in all, commanded by d'Erlon. The pass at Maya was defended by units of the British 2nd Division commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir William Stewart. The pass itself was held by the Lieutenant-Colonel John Cameron's 1st Brigade and the Brigadier-General Pringle's 3rd Brigade, while the remainder of the division were posted several miles further back.

The French advanced from Urdax at around 10:30. Stewart, having heard the sounds of gunfire from Roncevalles had ridden off earlier to investigate, and so command devolved to Brigadier-General Pringle, who had arrived in Spain just the day before.

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