Peninsular War

The Peninsular War (1808–1814) (known as War of Independence in Spain and as French Invasions in Portugal) was a major conflict during the Napoleonic Wars, fought in the Iberian Peninsula with Spanish, Portuguese, and the British forces fighting against Napoleonic French.

Related Topics:
1808 - 1814 - Spain - Portugal - Napoleonic Wars - Iberian Peninsula - British - French

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It has been described as "a hammer and anvil" campaign, the hammer being the Anglo-Portuguese Army, commanded by Sir Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, with 40,000 to 80,000 men, pounding the French army against the anvil--the Spanish armies and guerillas and the Portuguese militia.

Related Topics:
Sir Arthur Wellesley - Duke of Wellington - Guerillas - Militia

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The nature of the war was largely dictated by the characteristics of the Iberian Peninsula. Large armies could not live off the land, so although the French had almost 300,000 soldiers at their peak they were never able to concentrate them. Small ones could only do so for a limited period in any area, and were unlikely to achieve decisive results.

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AS The war destroyed the social and economic fabric of Portugal and Spain and ushered an era of turbulent Liberalism, with major civil wars until 1850, led by officers trained in the Peninsular War. It also led to the independence of Brazil and the former Spanish colonies of South America.

Related Topics:
1850 - Brazil - South America

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