1807
French invasion of Portugal - Lisbon captured.
Attack on Spain launched.
1808
French defeated at battles of Bailen, Rolica and Vimiero
British / French treaty - the Convention of Cintra
1809
Appalling conditions but the British (under Moore) drove off the French
at Corunna.
British success at Oporto with help of
the Portuguese army retrained and reorganised by Sir William Beresford.
With effective artillery fire Wellington successfully fought the French
at Talavera (Spain) despite working with
poor quality, ill disciplined Spanish troops with whom communication
was difficult.
1810
Construction of the fortified Lines of Torres
Vedras
Battle of Bussaco in which Wellington successfully
used the tactics of hiding his true strength from the enemy and employing
the concentrated firepower of cannons and muskets.
1811
With a steady supply of reinforcements the British won further battles
at Barrosa and Fuentes de Onoro, and then
attacked Albuera.
1812
At great cost in lives the British attacked the key fortresses of Ciudad
Rodrigo and Badajos - these towns were then sacked.
1813
The British victory at the battle of Vitoria
broke the back of the French occupation of Spain and resulted in the
capture of much treasure
Despite some French successes in the Pyrenees they were finally beaten
at Orthez and Toulouse. |
