"Joseph Napoleon's Cavalry?" Topic

I have been lured into painting Bonaparte's Quisling Spanish. Uniforms are coming along, but has anyone seen actual numbers for the cavalry? ("Tiny" is, sadly, not a base size under these rules.) Ideally, I need regimental strengths and number of squadrons, but at this stage, anything would be helpful.

Thanks.

Robert, I've scans of some notes from Dr. Sarramon, who made lots of research about the Spanish army of Joseph Bonaparte and about the peninsular war.

You find the scans on my site at PDF link

I think a first approach to the units and their approximate strength.

Greetings from Berlin
Markus Stein

My notes on theoretical organisation & strengths of Joseph's Army.

Listed below are the sources I have drawn on to produce the information covering the period 1808 to 1814:

Prontuario de las Leyes y Decretos del Rey Nuestro Señor Don José Napoleon I (Tomo I to III);
Philip Haythornthwaite "The Napoleonic Source Book" & "Uniforms of the Peninsular War 1807-14";
Otto von Pivka Osprey Men at Arms "The Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars" & "Armies of the Napoleonic Era";
Rene Chartrand & Billy Younghusband Osprey Men at Arms "Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars Volume 3";
Coronel J J Sanudo "Base de datos sobre las Unidades Militares en la Guerra de la Independencia Española";
Luis Sorando Muzas & Massimo Fiorentino various issues of "Soldats Napoleon";
Jose Maria Bueno "Andalucia y sus Milicias", & "Los Franceses y sus Aliados en Espana 1808-14 volumen 2";
Michael Oliver & Richard Partridge "Napoleonic Army Handbook – the French Army and Her Allies";
J Estrampes & Didier Davin "Le Bivouac" issues from 2010 & 2011;
A Du Casse "Mémoires et Correspondance Politique et Militaire du Roi Joseph – Tomes 4 to 9"
John R Elting "Swords around a Throne"
Claude Lebrun for providing various materials.

Information in English on the timing and detailed internal organisational changes has often been incomplete, confusing and contradictory and in some cases just plain incorrect. As more information has become available in recent years, the aim is to bring the information up to date. However corrections/amendments to the notes that follow would be much appreciated (where appropriate with supporting evidence) as it is quite possible that I have failed to identify all of the relevant decrees etc or misread/misinterpreted some of the information or some may not have been implemented.

Some words of caution – strengths are theoretical; actual strengths were much lower and in some cases no more than a cadre existed, or units may even not have been formed.

La Guardia Real

?? October 1808 – Regimiento de Infantería de la Guardia Real formed from a battalion each of the Grenadier and Voltigeur Guard from the Kingdom of Naples.
8 March 1809 – Regimiento de Infantería de la Guardia Real was broken up into:
1o Granaderos de la Guardia Real
1o Tiradores de la Guardia Real
Each regiment was to consist 2 battalions of 6 companies each of 100 men rising to 160 men when circumstances required.
November – 3rd battalion to be added to the Tiradores but went to form the Fusileros.
25 November 1813 – dissolved.

?? December 1809 – Regimiento de Fusileros de la Gardia Real
2 batallions – to consist of 6 companies each, but only 4 each in reality.
1811 March absorbed "10º Regimiento de Infanteria de Linea Ciudad Real"
1813 December – dissolved.

10 May 1809 – Guardas en los Portazgos

23 June 1809 – Artillería de la Guardia Real
4 x 8pdr cannon; 4 x 4pdr cannon; 4 x 6" howitzers (1 foot & 1 horse battery);
2 companies each of 121 men – teniente, subteniente, sargento primero, 4 sargento segundos, Furriel, 7 cabos, 2 mariscales, 2 Guarnicioneros, 100 soldados, 2 trompetas.

22 January 1811 – Compañia de Gendarmería Real á Caballo
1 squadron of 73 men – capitan, 2 tenientes, 1 subteniente (habilitado), 1 Sargento primero, 3 sargento segundos. 8 cabos, 1 trompeta, 56 gendarmas (40 mounted) divided into 8 squads of 5 mounted & 2 dismounted under a Cabos; 2 squads under a sargento, 4 squads under a Teniente, .

31 December 1811 – Compañia de Zapadores de la Guardia Real
106 men. – capitan, primer teniente, Segundo teniente, sargento primero. 4 segundos, 8 cabos, 20 obreros, 30 zapadores primero, 40 segundos.

Regimiento de Caballería de la Guardia Real
2 squadrons from Rёgiment dе Сhеvau-lёger de la Garde accompanied Joseph from Naples
5 December 1808 – 4 squadrons each of 200 men
April 1810 – 5 squadrons
?? June reduced to 4 squadrons as 5th used to form the Regimiento de Husares de la Guardia Real
2 January 1814 – dissolved

May 1810 – Regimiento de Husares de la Guardia Real – 2 squadrons

Infantería de linea (Line Infantry)

14 December 1808 – Regimiento de Infantería de linea "Real Extrangero"
4 battalions each of 6 companies – 1 Granaderos; 1 Tiradores; & 4 Fusilieros.
1 garrison/depot (Deposito) battalion of 4 companies Fusilieros.
Regimental HQ 44 men – Coronel, Mayor, 4 Commandantes de batallon, 4 Ayudantes mayores, Habilitado & Depositario, Capellan, Sargento Conductor de equipages, 4 Sargento Abanderos, Cirujano Mayor, 3 Cirujano Segundos, 4 Practicantes, Tambor Mayor, 3 tambores de Ordenes para la enseñanza, Músico Principal, 12 Músicos, Maestro Armero, Sastre (Tailor), Zapatero
Companies 200 men – Capitan, Teniente, Subteniente, Sargento Primero, 4 Sargento Secundos, Furriel, 8 Cabos Primeros, 8 Cabos Segundos, 2 tambores, 173 soldados
December 1813 – dissolved.

23 January 1809 – 1o & 2o Regimiento de Infantería Española de linea
2 battalions of 6 companies – 1 Granaderos; 1 Tiradores; & 4 Fusilieros.
2 auxîliaries/depot companies.
Regimental HQ 25 men – Coronel, Mayor, 2 Commandantes de batallon, 2 Ayudantes (Teniente), 2 Sargento Abanderados (Subteniente), 2 Capellanos, 2 Cirujano, Tambor Mayor, 8 Músicos, 2 Maestro Armeros, Sastre (Tailor), Zapatero
Companies of 165 men– Capitan, 2 Teniete, 2 Subteniente, Sargento Primero, 4 Sargento Segundos, 8 Cabos Primeros, 8 Cabos Segundos, 3 Tambores, 136 Soldados
Auxîliaries/depot company of 80 men – Capitan, 2 Subalternos, Sargento Primero, 2 Sargento Segundos, 8 Cabos, 2 Tambores, 64 soldados
June 1810 – Regimiento de Infantería de linea Madrid No 1
May 1810 – Regimiento de Infantería de linea Toledo No 2

6 June 1809 – 3o Regimiento de Infantería Española de linea
March 1810 – Infantería de linea "Regimiento No 3, Sevilla"

May 1810 – Infanteria de Linea "Regimiento Nº 4, Soria"
1811 January absorbed into 1º Regimiento de Infantería de linea Madrid

March 1810 – Infanteria de Linea "Regimiento Nº 5, Sevilla"
April – Infanteria de Linea "Regimiento Nº 5, Granada"
1811 November – absorbed Regimiento No 8o Jaen
1812 September – absorbed into Regimiento No 2º, Toledo???

March/April 1810 – Infanteria de Linea "Regimiento Nº 6, Granada"

March 1810 – Regimiento Fijo de Malaga
April/May – Infanteria de Linea "Regimiento Nº 6, Malaga"

March/April 1810 – Infanteria de Linea "Regimiento Nº 7, Cordoba"

March/April 1810 – Infanteria de Linea "Regimiento Nº 8, Jaen"
1811 November – amalgamated into "Regimiento Nº 5 Granada"

March/April 1810 – Infanteria de Linea "Regimiento Nº 9, Infantes"
May – "Regimiento Infantes Nº 10º de Linea"

March/April 1810 – Infanteria de Linea "Regimiento Nº 10, Ciudad Real"
1811 March consolidated into "Fusileros de la Guardia Real"

March 1810 – Infanteria de Linea "Regimiento Nº 11, Toledo
April – Infanteria de Linea "Regimiento Nº 11, Alcazar de San Juan"

March/April 1810 – Infanteria de Linea "Regimiento Nº 12, Toledo"

23 January 1809 – Regimiento de Infantería de Linea No 1 de la Brigada Irlandesa
Organised as for Infanteria de Linea

1811 (??? possibly earlier) – the French Military archives also shows a battalion of Swiss Infantry

Infantería Ligera (Light Infantry)

16 February 1809 – Batallon de Infantería Ligera for the Policing of Madrid
4 companies each of 37 men – Oficial, 2 Sargentos, 4 Cabos, 30 Soldados

January 1809 – Infantería Ligera, Regimiento Nº 1, Castilla
2 Battalions each of 6 Companies of 160 men & 1 depot company
December 1813 – dissolved

May 1810 – Regimiento Murcia Nº 2 de Infanteria Ligera
September 1812 – disappeared.

Caballería Ligera (Light cavalry)

29 August 1809 – Regimiento de Caballería Ligera – 1 o Cazadores
Regimental HQ 20 men – Coronel, Mayor, 2 Commandantes de Esquadron, 2 Ayudantes Mayores, Habilitado, 2 capellanes, Cirujano Primero, Cirujano Segundo, 2 Sargentos brigadas, Trompeta mayor, mariscal primero, mariscal Segundo, maestro armero. Maestro sillero, maestro sastre, maestro botelo.
4 squadrons of 2 companies each of 128 men – capitan, teniente, 2 subteniente, sargento primero, 4 sargento segundos, 9 cabos, 2 trompetas, 108 cazadores.
1st company in 1st & 2nd squadrons designated Carabineros.
1813 December – disbanded.

Raised 1810:
Regimiento de Caballería Ligera – 2o Cazadores
Regimiento de Caballería Ligera – 3o Cazadores disbanded December 1813
Regimiento de Caballería Ligera – 4o Cazadores disbanded late 1812

Raised April 1812 Husares de Gudalajara – disbanded January 1814

1811 ??? – Lanceros de Dalmacia (1 escuadron)
March – Lanceros de Sevilla (2 escuadrones)
November – Lanceros de la Mancha??? (2 escuadrones)
1812 ??? – Lanceros de la Mancha (discharged???)

Caballeria de Linea (Line Cavalry)
Sources differ considerably on the number of regiments and whether in fact any were raised. A maximum of 6 existed on paper.
The Sanudo database lists none.
Elting's "Swords around a Throne" suggests up to 4 regiments.
Oliver and Partridge say never a physical reality as only a few recruits.
Chartrand and Younghusband say the 1st regiment may have partly been raised along with some cadres for others.

Artilleria
Details are not clear, but it appears that 1 regiment of 2 battalions was raised. The 2nd battalion being formed in May 1810. I have not been able to find a breakdown of the battalions.
In addition a number of independent companies were formed:
1810 May – Compania de San Sebastian
1810 June – Compania de Almeria
1810 July – Compania Fija de Artilleros de Malaga
1812 February – Compania de Badajoz

Milicias / Guardia Cívica

29 June 1809 – Milicias Urbanas
Towns of the Provinces of Toledo & de la Mancha to form units.

20 July 1809 – Milicias Urbanas
1 or more companies each of 100 men. Capitan, Teniente, Subteniente, Sargento Primero, 4 Sargento Segundos, 8 Cabos, 2 Tambores, 82 soldados.
3 companies to form a battalion.
HQ – Commandante del battallon, Ayudante (functions as Mayor), Abanderado, Tambor Mayor, 2 Pifanos

1808 December – Milicia Civica de Madrid "Guardia Nacional de Madrid" 4 Batallones each of 4 Companies of 100 men;
1 Compañia de Caballeria (116 men & 100 horses)
1809 July – 1o & 2o Regimiento de Infantería para la Guardia Urbana de Madrid
1810 May – 10 Batallones –
Cuartel de Palacio;
Cuartel de la Plaza;
Cuartel de San Martin;
Cuartel de Lavapies;
Cuartel de Barquillo;
Cuartel de Afligidos;
Cuartel de Maravillas;
Cuartel de San Jeronimo;
Cuartel de San Isidro;
Cuartel de San Francisco

6 February 1810 – Guardia Cívica en los quarto reynos de Andalucía
Córdoba, Jaen, Granada & Sevilla to form 1 or more batallones de Milicia Cívica
Battalion was to comprise a headquarters of 8 men and 6 companies of 100 men.
Company: Capitan, Teniente, Subteniente, Sargento Primero, 4 Sargento Segundos. 8 Cabos, 2 Tambores 82 Soldados
Battalion HQ: Commandante de battallon, 2 Ayudantes (one functioning as Mayor), Abanderado, Tambor Mayor, 2 pifanos

Cavalry company: Capitan, Teniente, Subteniente, Marechal des logis-chef, 3 Marechal des logis, 6 Brigadiers, 2 trumpeters, 55 troopers.

1810 February – Milicia Civica de Granada (1 Batallon – 6 Companies of 100 men)
March – Regimiento (2 Batallones of 6 Compañias)

1810 February – Milicia Civica de Sevilla (1 Batallon – 6 Companies of 100 men)
May – 4 Batallones
1812 – 1 Batallon

1810 February – Milicia Civica de Jaen (1 Batallon – 6 Companies each of 100 men)

1810 February – Milicia Civica de Cordoba (1 Batallon – 6 Companias 100 men
1811 March – Regimiento (2 Batallones)
1812 – 1 Batallon

1810 March – Milicia Civica de Malaga (1 Regimiento – 2 Batallones, each of 6 Companies)

1810 August – Milicia Civica de Zaragoza

1811 April – Milicia Civica de Ecija (1 Compañia de caballeria)

1812 – Guardia Nacional de Valencia (2 Batallones Infanteria, 1 Escuadron Caballeria)

Contra-Guerilla

1808 March – Royal decree called for the formation of Escopeteros and Cazadores Francos de Montaña, to compromise a mix of infantry and cavalry.

19 December 1809 – Compañia con el nombre de Miqueletes de Navarra
(also called Miqueletes Navarros de José Napoleon)
120 men. – capitan, 2 tenientes, 2 subtenientes, sargento primero, 4 sargento segundos, 4 cabos primero, 4 cabos segundos, 2 tambores, 100 miqueletes,

31 March 1810 – all provinces to form Compañias to be named Cazadores de Montaña de Infantería or Cazadores de Montaña de Cabellería (ligera) to repress disorder, and guard communications.

Companies were organised as follows:
Infantry: Capitan, Teniente, Subteniente, Sargento Primero, 4 Sargento Segundos. 8 Cabos, 2 Tambores 82 Soldados
Cavalry: Capitan, Teniente, Subteniente, Sargento Primero, 3 Sargento Segundos, 6 Cabos, 2 trompetas, 55 Soldados.

Coin's companies had a slightly different organisation:
Infantry: Capitan, Teniente, 2 subteniente, sargento primero, 4 sargento segundos. 8 Cabos, 2 tambores, 1 pifano, 99 soldados
Cavalry: Teniente, sargento, 2 Cabos, 1 trompette, 20 Soldados.

1810 August – Compañia de Costas de Adra

1810 June? – Compañia Franca de Alcala la Real (cavalry)
1812 ??? – disappeared

1810 ??? – Compañia Franca de Alcaudete (mixed infantry & cavalary)
1812 ??? – disappeared

1811 September – Compañia Franca de Almaden (mixed infantry & cavalry) – Cazadores de Montaña de Almaden (cavalry)
1812 ??? – disappeared

1810 August – Compañia Franca de Almeria (infantry)
1812 ??? – disappeared

1810 August? – Compañia de la Costa Almuñecar

1812 ??? – Compañia Franca de Alpujarras

1810 ??? – Cazadores del Ampurdan
March – (also known as?? Miqueletes de Cataluña/Parrot de Boquica/Miqueletes de Pujol)
1814 ??? – dissolved

1810 ??? – Escopeteros de Andalucia (also Husares de Andalucia or Franco de Caballeria del Guadalquivir) – 1 escuadron

1811 ??? – Compañia Franca de Andujar (infantry)

1812 ??? – Compañia Franca de Antequera (mixed infantry & cavalry)
July – disappeared

1810/1811 ??? – Fusileros Aragoneses (infantry – 4 or 6 companies)
1812 December – dissolved

1811 ??? – Voluntarios Aragoneses a caballo (cavalry)

1810 ??? – Cazadores de Montaña de Avila (cavalry)
1812 July – absorbed Compañia de: Cuenca, Madrid, & Extremadura.
1813 June – amalgamated with 2º Regimiento de Cazadores a caballo

1811 June – Batallon 1º Ligero de Badajoz (infantry)
1812 April – dissolved.

1810 January – Cazadores Volunterios de Baena

1812 ??? – Cazadores de Barcelona
August – absorbed Compañia de Mataro

1810 ??? – Compañia Municipal de Barcelona

1810 ??? – Compañia Franca de Montaña de Berja

1811 ??? – Escopeteros de Bujalance (cavalry)

1811 ??? – Cazadores a caballo de Carmona
1812 July – amalgamated with 2º Regimiento de Cazadores a caballo

1812 ??? – Compañia Franca de la Carolina (infantry)

1810 ??? – Cazadores de Castilla (cavalry)
1812 October – Compañia de Partidarios de Valladolid

1812 February – Cazadores Catalanes
1813 – reformed with 2 companies
1814 January – dissolved

1809 ??? – Guias Catalanes (cavalry)
1814 May – dissolved

1812 ??? – Compañia Franca de Ciudad Real
September – disappeared

1812 ??? – Compañia Franca de Escopeteros de Coin (infantry & cavalry)

1811 ??? – Compañias Franca de Colmenar

1810 ??? – Migueletes de Santa Coloma
1812 September – transformed into Cazadores de Gerona
1814 May – dissolved

1810 ??? – Escopeteros de Cordoba
April – Cazadores de Cordoba; Compañia de Infanteria de Cordoba;
1812 ??? – disappeared

1810 ??? – Guias de Cordoba (cavalry)

1810 ??? – Compañia Franca de Cuenca
1811 April – amalgamated with Compañia Franca de Madrid

1810 August – Compañia de la Costa de Dalias

1810 ??? – Escopeteros de Ecija (cavalry)

1811 ??? – Compañia Franca de Extremadura
1812 July – consolidated in Cazadores de Avila?

1812 ??? – Cazadores de Gerona
September – Antes Miqueletes de Santa Coloma
1813 October – absorbed Partisanos de Tarragona

1810 July? – Compañia Franca de Granada (cavalry)

1810 ??? – Compañia Franca de Granada (infantry)
September – Compañia de Cazadores de Montaña de la Ciudad de Granada

1810/1811 ??? – Compañia Franca de Guadalajara (cavalry – cazadores)
1811 November – Cazadores de Segovia
1813 December – dissolved

1812 ??? – Compañia Franca de Guadalajara (cavalry – Husares)
April – Compañia de Husares de Guadalajara
May – Compañia Franca de Husares de Guadalajara
1813 ??? – dissolved

1810 ??? – Batallon de Cazadores de Montaña del Guadalquivir (infantry) and
Franco de Caballeria del Guadalquivir (1 escuadron – also known as Husares de Andalucia)

1812 ??? – Legion del Guadiana (cavalry)

1810 March – Cazadores de Montaña de Jaen (infantry & cavalry)

1810 ??? – Cazadores de Montaña de Jerez (infantry & cavalry)

1810 August – Compañia de Escopeteros de Lebrija

1812 ??? – Compañia Franca de Loja (cavalry)

1810 August – Compañia Franca de Lora del Rio

1810 ??? – Escopeteros de Lucena
May – Compañias de Cazadores de Montaña de Lucena

1810 May – Compañia de Cazadores de Montaña de Madrid
1811 April – joined with Compañia Franca de Cuenca to form Compañia Franca de Cuenca y Madrid
1812 June – amalgamated with Cazadores de Avila

1810 May – Guardia de Honor de Madrid (1 escuadron -cavalry)

1810 ??? – Compañia de la Costa de Malaga (cavalry – Dragones)
June – Dragones de Malaga
1811 April – Compañia de Cazadores de la Costa de Malaga
1812 April – Dragones de la Costa de Malaga

1811 ??? – Compañia Franca de Escopeteros de Malaga (infantry)

1810 March – Guardia de Honor de Malaga (1 escuadron – cavalry)

1810 June – Compañia de Guias Cazadores de Malaga (cavalry)
1811 April – Compañia de Guias de Malaga
1812 July – Compañia de Guias de Don Tomas Villareal

1811 April – Cazadores de Montaña de la Mancha (cavalry)

1812 ??? – Compañia Franca de la Mancha (infantry)

1810 August – Compañia Franca de Escopeteros de Marchena

1811 March – Cazadores de Montaña de Martos (mixed infantry and cavalry)

1812 ??? – Compañia de Cazadores Distinguidos de Mataro (infantry)

1811 ??? – Escopeteros de Montilla (infantry & cavalry)

1811 ??? – Volteadores de Montoro

1810 ??? – Cazadores de Moron (infantry & cavalry)

1810 August – Compañia de la Costa de Motril (also Escopeteros de Motril)

1810 August – Compañia de la Costa de Nerja

1810 August – Compañia Franca de Olvera

1810 August – Compañia Franca de Escopeteros de Osuna (infantry & cavalry)

1810 ??? – Compañia de Veteranos de Pamplona

1809 ??? – Voluntarios del Rey

1810 May – Cazadores de Montaña de Ronda (cavalry)
1811 September – Compañia Franca de Ronda

1811 ??? – Compañia de Cazadores de Montaña de Segovia (infantry & cavalry)
1812 September – disappeared

1810 July?? – Cazadores de Montaña de Sevilla (1 escuadron – cavalry)

1811 ??? – Guias de la Sierra Morena (cavalry)

1812 ??? – Infantaria de la Sierra

1812 ??? – Compañia de Fusileros de Tarazona (infantry)
July – dissolved

1812 ??? – Partisanos de Tarragona
1813 October – became 2ª Compañia Cazadores de Gerona

1812 ??? – Cazadores de Montaña de Toledo

1811 ??? – Compañia Franca de Torrox (cavalry)
November – disappeared

1811 ??? – Compañia Franca de Ubeda-Baeza (infantry & cavalry)
1812 July – Batallon de Cazadores de Ubeda

1812 ??? – Compañia Franca de Ugijar (cavalry)

1813 ??? – Miñones de Valencia
December – dissolved

1811 ??? – Compañia de Escopeteros de la Vega (infantry)

1810 August – Compañia Franca de Velez-Malaga (cavalry – escopeteros)

1810 ??? – Cazadores de Zamora
1813 July – disappeared

1810 ??? – Compañia de Don Jose Asensio (Zaragoza)

Some strengths from the excellent book "El Ejercito Espanol de Jose Napoleon (1808-1813)" by Luis Sorando Muzas (who has written many articles on Joseph's army):

29 August 1811
1o Cazadores de Caballería 25 officers & 386 men
2o Cazadores de Caballería 33 officers & 196 men
3o Cazadores de Caballería 34 officers & 129 men
4o Cazadores de Caballería 26 officers & 330 men

1 June 1812
1o Cazadores de Caballería 33 officers & 332 men (plus 11 in hospital)
3o Cazadores de Caballería 14 officers & 192 men (plus 14 in hospital)

15 December 1812
1o Cazadores de Caballería 37 officers & 245 men (plus 42 in hospital)
Husares de Guadalajara 4 officers & 72 men

15 February 1813
1o Cazadores de Caballería 47 officers & 314 men (plus 10 in hospital)
1o Regimiento de Lanceros 11 officers & 110 men (plus 6 in hospital)

Great compilation, Ian :-) … and indeed, Luis' book is a must have for the research of the Joseph troops.

Greetings from Berlin
Markus Stein

Far more than I hoped for! Thank you very much.

Marcus, am I missing the line cavalry on the PDF? Or do you (and Dr Sarramon) concur with the assessment that they were cadre only? (Such a shame when I have uniform plates and suitable castings. But such is life and historical miniature warfare.)

Robert, these are all copies I have; and I am not in contact with Dr. Sarramon; I think he passed away some time ago.

But Ian's list is quite helpful, Luis book is very valuable.

Greetings
Markus Stein

You sure can learn a lot following a thread on The Miniatures Page.

My thoughts exactly, Berzerk.

Damn.

For realsies, as the cool kids say.

First foot note on the Cavalry from "El Ejercito Espanol de Jose Napoleon (1808-1813)" says:

"Nunca existio regimiento alguno de dragones, ni di linea en al ejercito de jose, pues los famosos seis regimentos de linea pintados por Norrie a finales del XIX son, en realidad, invenos que enlazaban con el presunto Regimiento no 7 de lanceros de la Mancha, unidad que nunca existio endicho ejercito, ya que el 7 de sus mantillas correspondia, al anagrama de Fernando VII y no al ordinal de un regimiento afrencesado."

which very roughly translates as (though need a good word in English for "mantillas" – the Knotel plate shows the monogram on the saddle):

There was never any regiment of dragoons, nor of the line in the army of Joseph, the famous six regiments of line painted by Norrie at the end of the nineteenth century are, in fact, inventions that linked with the alleged Regiment No. 7 of Lancers of La Mancha, a unit that never existed in that army, since the 7th of its mantillas corresponded, to the monogram of Fernando VII and not to the ordinal of a pro-French regiment.

Some further strength information for the cavalry extracted from Nafziger's OoB

Item 812GSAI re French Armée du Centre 17 July 1812
Chevau-légers de la Garde royale (450)

Item 813BSXE re French Armée du Centre 1 February 1813
1st Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (37 officers/245 men/169 horses)
Guadalaxara Hussar Regiment (4/72/46)

Item 813DSXJ re French Armée du Centre 1 April 1813
1(1st squadron)/1st Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (22/174/220)
2/1st Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (18/110/54)
1/2nd Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (21/103/100)
2/2nd Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (18/111/96)
1/1st Lancer Regiment (7/60/88)
2/1st Lancer Regiment (4/73/33)
1/Avila Cavalry Regiment (11/54/63)
2/Avila Cavalry Regiment (10/108/73)
1/Guadalaxara Hussar Regiment (6/82/71)