Key Facts
- Start date
- 7 July 1813
- End date
- 8 September 1813
- Duration
- ~2 months
- Allied commander
- General Thomas Graham
- French garrison commander
- General Louis Emmanuel Rey
Strategic Narrative Overview
The siege began on 7 July 1813 following an earlier failed attempt led by Wellington. Allied British and Portuguese troops under Thomas Graham conducted a prolonged investment of the fortified town. After weeks of artillery bombardment and preparation, a final assault was launched that broke through the French defenses. The attacking troops forced their way into San Sebastián, compelling the French garrison under Rey to surrender.
01 / The Origins
During the Peninsular War, French forces occupied San Sebastián, a strategically significant port town in northern Spain. The Allies under Wellington sought to expel French garrisons from Iberia as part of their broader campaign to push Napoleon's forces back toward France. San Sebastián's position near the French border made its capture a military priority, and an initial Allied assault had already failed before the siege was renewed under Thomas Graham.
03 / The Outcome
The French garrison surrendered on 8 September 1813, ending French control of San Sebastián. However, Allied soldiers lost discipline during the final assault, rampaging through the city, committing atrocities against civilians, and setting fire to much of the town. The destruction left San Sebastián severely damaged. The fall of the city opened the Allied path northward into France in the final stages of the Peninsular War.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Thomas Graham, Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington.
Side B
1 belligerent
Louis Emmanuel Rey.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.