Peninsular War
The war of Spain, Portugal and Britain against the French occupation of the Iberian Peninsula began with the Madrid uprising of 2 May 1808. A nationwide guerrilla struggle and Wellington’s army tied down a large part of Napoleon’s forces there.
- Date
- 2 May 1808 – 17 April 1814exact date · duration: ≈ 6 years
- Place
- Madridtoday: Madrid, Spain · Western and Central Europe
- Participants
- First French Empire, Spanish Empire, Kingdom of Portugal, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Napoleon I, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington
- Threads
- French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, History of Portugal since the Battle of Aljubarrota
- Also known as
- Пиренейская война; Испанская война за независимость
Napoleon forced the Spanish Bourbons to abdicate and placed his brother Joseph on the throne, which provoked nationwide resistance. The French capitulation at Bailén (1808) was the first defeat of a Napoleonic army in open battle; Anglo-Portuguese forces under Arthur Wellesley (the future Duke of Wellington) held Portugal and in 1812–1813 defeated the French at Salamanca and Vitoria.
Napoleon himself called this war his “Spanish ulcer”. The crisis of the Spanish monarchy gave impetus to the independence movements in Spain’s American colonies.
Connections
Causes and preconditions
- Continental System21 November 1806 – 11 April 1814 · Western and Central EuropeAn attempt to cut off trade through the Iberian Peninsula
Consequences
- Cry of Dolores16 September 1810 · Latin Americathe crisis of the Spanish monarchy after Napoleon’s invasion
- Liberal Revolution of 182024 August 1820 · Western and Central Europeafter the French invasions Portugal was left under a regency and British military control
Related events
- Treaties of Tilsit25 June (7 July) 1807 · Western and Central EuropePeace in the east freed Napoleon’s forces for Spain
- Transfer of the Portuguese court to Brazil29 November 1807 – 8 March 1808 · Latin Americathe invasion of Portugal in November 1807 was the prelude to the Peninsular War
- Battle of Wagram5–6 July 1809 · Western and Central EuropeAustria went to war in 1809, counting on Napoleon’s best troops being tied down in Spain
Same participants
- Battle of Assaye23 September 1803 · South Asiavia Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington
- British conquest of Java4 August – 18 September 1811 · Southeast Asia and Oceaniavia First French Empire
- Battle of Borodino26 August (7 September) 1812 · Eastern Europevia Napoleon I
- Congress of ViennaSeptember 1814 – 9 June 1815 · Western and Central Europevia Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington
Meanwhile in the world
Other regions, within a year of this event
Eastern Europe
- Battle of Borodino26 August (7 September) 1812
- Fire of Moscow (1812)2 (14) September 1812 – 6 (18) September 1812
- French invasion of Russia24 June – 14 December 1812
- Battle of the Berezina14 (26) November 1812 – 17 (29) November 1812
Balkans and Anatolia
- Treaty of Bucharest16 (28) May 1812
- First Serbian Uprising14 February 1804 – 7 October 1813
Middle East and Egypt
- Treaty of Gulistan12 (24) October 1813
Africa
- Jihad of Usman dan Fodio21 February 1804 – 1808
Southeast Asia and Oceania
- British conquest of Java4 August – 18 September 1811
- Rum Rebellion26 January 1808
- Eruption of Mount Tambora5–11 April 1815
North America
- Founding of Fort RossMarch – 30 August (11 September) 1812
- War of 181218 June 1812 – 17 February 1815
Latin America
- Cry of Dolores16 September 1810
- Transfer of the Portuguese court to Brazil29 November 1807 – 8 March 1808
The same period
Sources
- Wikipedia (English): Peninsular War
- Wikipedia (Russian): Пиренейские войны
- Esdaile C. J. The Peninsular War: A New History. — London: Allen Lane, 2002.
- Wikidata: Q152499