Battle near the village of Sorauren, 1813

Coloured aquatint by J C Stadler after William Heath, published by Thomas Tegg, 1 April 1818. Illustration for a narrative poem by Dr Syntax, 1818.

Sorauren was an action in the Battle of the Pyrenees (25 July - 2 August 1813) during the Peninsular War (1808-1814). The French commander in Spain, Marshal Soult, launched an offensive to relieve French forces besieged at Pamplona and San Sebastian. When news of the French advance reached Lieutenant-General Arthur Wellesley, he immediately rode south. He assumed command of the British forces at the village of Sorauren near Pamplona.

On 27 July his forces were drawn up on the Oricain ridge. The French attacked the next day and after a bloody struggle the defenders held them off. About midday, the 6th Division arrived and Wellington sent them to assault the French right flank. More fresh units reached the field and Soult soon ordered a withdrawal. The French suffered 4,000 casualties, while Wellesley's army lost 1,500 British, 1,000 Portuguese and 1000 Spaniards. The subsequent French retreat from Sorauren cost Soult another 3,500 casualties as he withdrew into France to prepare for the imminent Allied offensive.