Peninsular War Flashcards
Spain relations with France before 1807
Allegiance with France since 1795
Brief siding of Spain with Britain following Trafalgar 1805
Franco-Spanish force 1807 to takeover Portugal
When did Napoleon enter Spain
March 1808 alongside 100,000 troops
How did Napoleon deal with Spanish monarchy
Due to political turmoil in Spain Napoleon force abdication of Charles IV in March 1808 and then new Monarch Ferdinand VII in May 1808
How was the Spanish population divided over french invasion?
-educated middle class welcomed french enlightenment reformers
-landowners feared loss of power + influence
-conservative + catholic peasantry resented outsiders who challenged papal authority
Madrid riots
May 1808
Rebellion against french occupation
150 french soldiers killed
Madrid’s citizens shot in retaliation
What formed across Spain as a result of the Madrid riots
Juntas - local resistance communities
Battle of Bailén
July 1808
Napoleon’s forces defeated by Andalusian Army
22,000 french soldiers surrendered and retreated
How did Napoleon respond to french defeat at Bailén
Made his brother Joseph King of Spain August 1808
Battle of Vimerio
August 1808
British defeated french in Portugal
British sent aid to Spanish
Britain established control of seas and ports
Why did France face difficulty during the peninsula war?
Faced two conflicts :
- military campaigns of Spanish, British & Portuguese
- guerrilla warfare of peasantry
Why was Napoleons military tactics unsuccessful?
Policy of living off the land did not work due to mountainous and barren setting
When did Napoleon place himself in command of Spain ?
November 1808
When did Napoleon enter madrid?
With how many troops?
December 1808
80,000 troops
Spanish situation winter 1809
Northern Spain controlled by french
Portugal + southern Spain controlled by Spanish and British
When and why was Napoleon forced to leave Spain?
January 1809
Due to renewed Austrian threat
Return of British troops 1809
April 1809
Wellesley brought 30,000 men and took control of British forces
1809-1810 they build a series of fortresses as protection
France level of success in Spain
Whilst initially having control over northern Spain they ultimately did not achieve the breakthrough they sought
Despite spending large sums of money and having large armies
Battle of Vitoria
June 1813
French defeated by Wellesley
British forces entered madrid
Joseph fled
Battle of Toulouse
French defeated by Wellesley following British Invasion of southern France
