 After the failed Republican offensive against Zaragoza, the Nationalists decided to redeploy their forces and continued their offensive against the last piece of Republican-held territory in the North, Asturias.On 29 August, the Sovereign Council of Asturias, led by Belarmino Tomas, assumed all military and civil powers and appointed Colonel Prada as commander of the Republican Army of the North.The Nationalist offensive was launched by General Dávila's Army of the North, with 80,000 men.