nˈoʊɪŋ ðə wˈiːknəs ʌv hɪz fˈoːɹsᵻz, mˈʌtʃ ɪnfˈɪɹiɚ tə ðə fɹˈɛntʃ ˈɑːɹmi kənsˈɪdɚd ðə bˈɛst fˈaɪɾɪŋ fˈoːɹs ʌv ɪts tˈaɪm, hiː pɹɪpˈɛɹd ɐ plˈæn ʌv ˌɪndɚɹˈɛkt dᵻfˈɛns ʌvðə spˈænɪʃ kˈæpɪɾəl baɪ dᵻfˈɛndɪŋ ðə ɹˈoʊd lˈiːdɪŋ tə ðə sˈɑːmoʊsˌɪɹə pˈæs, sˌʌm wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd kˈɪləmˌiːɾɚz tə ðə nˈɔːɹθ ʌvðə kˈæpɪɾəl.
Knowing the weakness of his forces, much inferior to the French army (considered the best fighting force of its time), he prepared a plan of indirect defence of the Spanish capital by defending the road leading to the Somosierra Pass, some 100 kilometres to the north of the capital.