Wellington and the Lines of Torres Vedras

Wellington and the Lines of Torres Vedras PDF Author: Mark S. Thompson
Publisher: From Reason to Revolution
ISBN: 9781914059858
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 240

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Book Description
This book describes plans to defend Lisbon from invaders during the Peninsular War 1807-1814. Three different nations considered this challenge. First the French after their invasion of 1807. Second, the Portuguese after the French were ejected in 1808 and third, the British after the French were ejected in 1809.

Wellington and the Lines of Torres Vedras

Wellington and the Lines of Torres Vedras PDF Author: Mark S. Thompson
Publisher: From Reason to Revolution
ISBN: 9781914059858
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 240

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Book Description
This book describes plans to defend Lisbon from invaders during the Peninsular War 1807-1814. Three different nations considered this challenge. First the French after their invasion of 1807. Second, the Portuguese after the French were ejected in 1808 and third, the British after the French were ejected in 1809.

The Lines of Torres Vedras

The Lines of Torres Vedras PDF Author: John Grehan
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1473852757
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 229

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Book Description
“This is a well-researched, well-written, closely argued and fascinating contribution to the historiography of the Peninsular War.”—The Spectator In 1809 French armies controlled almost every province of Spain and only Wellington’s small force in Portugal stood between Napoleon and the conquest of Iberia. The French invaded Portugal in the summer of 1810, but found their way blocked by the most extensive field fortifications the world had ever seen—the Lines of Torres Vedras. Unable to penetrate the Lines, the French were driven back into Spain having suffered the heaviest defeat yet experienced by Napoleon’s armies. The retreat from Portugal marked the turning point in the Peninsular War and, from the security of the Lines, Wellington was able to mount the offensive campaigns that swept France’s Imperial armies back across the Pyrenees. The Lines of Torres Vedras is an authoritative account of the planning, construction and occupation of the Lines and of the battles, sieges and horrors of the French invasion. It is also an important study of Wellington’s strategy during the crucial years of the war against Napoleon. “Essential reading for every Peninsula enthusiast, this is recommended highly.”—Military Illustrated

The Lines of Torres Vedras 1809–11

The Lines of Torres Vedras 1809–11 PDF Author: Ian Fletcher
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781841765761
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Following the battle of Bussaco on 27 September 1810 Wellington's heavily outnumbered troops began to withdraw towards Lisbon. By the evening of 9 October the British and Portuguese began to withdraw behind a line of defensive works that had been built to the north of Lisbon. These were not the rudimentary field works that the French anticipated, but an enormous network of forts, batteries and redoubts whose construction had been started the previous November - the Lines of Torres Vedras. This 30-mile-wide line utilised the area's natural defences, damming rivers, scarping hillsides, blocking roads and establishing forts upon almost all of the hills. This title describes its design, creation and effectiveness in the face of French attacks.

Masséna at Bay 1811

Masséna at Bay 1811 PDF Author: Tim Saunders
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 1399001337
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 383

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Book Description
The 1810 French invasion of Portugal, commanded by the veteran marshal André Masséna, who was known to Napoleon as the ‘Spoilt Child of Victory’ has been well covered by historians. Conversely, the shock revelation of the presence of the Lines of Torres Vedras baring the French Army of Portugal’s way to their objective of Lisbon, and numerous combats through to the Battle of Funtes de Oñoro, has been frequently and unjustifiably glossed over. This book, starting with the occupation of the Lines of Torres Vedras, which were at the heart of Wellington’s Peninsular strategy from October 1809-1812, is the story of Wellington’s pursuit of Masséna back to Spain. This was a time when the Peninsular Army was still being forged and Wellington was refining his own art of war. In addition, 1810-1811 was a period when the outcome of the struggle in Iberia was still far from certain, and Wellington could not manoeuvre with the same confidence in the outcome as he could in future years. The series of combats fought at Pombal, Redhina, Foz da Arounce and Sabugal while Masséna was at bay, though not categorised as ‘general actions’, were of the same scale and significance as those of 1808; Roliça and Vimiero. The general action at Funtes de Oñoro was one of the most significant of Wellington’s victories, but he confessed that ‘If Bony had been here we would have been beat’.

Wellington: The Iron Duke (Text Only)

Wellington: The Iron Duke (Text Only) PDF Author: Richard Holmes
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
ISBN: 0007383495
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 258

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Book Description
In this compelling book, Richard Holmes tells the exhilarating story of the Duke of Wellington, Britain's greatest ever soldier.

Death to the French

Death to the French PDF Author: C. S. Forester
Publisher: DigiCat
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 155

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Book Description
"Death to the French" is an absorbing historical novel about the Peninsular War. It narrates the experiences of a British soldier, Rifleman Dodd, who gets separated from the army, joins the guerrillas and becomes their leader to avoid being caught by the French. The soldier and the story of his adventures is fictionalized, but the events are somewhat based on real historical events.

An Unconventional Officer

An Unconventional Officer PDF Author: Lynn Bryant
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781980553106
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 436

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Book Description
The year is 1802.A brief and fragile peace has been reached in Europe, but Britain is at war against the Maratha in India. In its Leicestershire barracks, the 110th infantry welcomes a new officer. Paul van Daan is far from being a typical raw young subaltern. Ambitious, talented and a charismatic leader of men, Paul has the means to buy his way up the ladder of promotion. He also has an unconventional past, a fierce temper and a passion for justice which bring him into conflict with other officers. Paul needs to find a way to adjust to the realities of life in the officers' mess while remaining true to himself. Along the way he makes enduring friendships, forged on the battlefields of India and Europe, and builds an unexpected bond with the unemotional commander of the Peninsular army, Sir Arthur Wellesley. As the 110th joins Wellesley in Portugal, Paul has established a reputation as a respected officer, a courageous fighter and a shameless womaniser. His marriage to the shy, gentle Rowena brings him companionship and stability. But it is Anne Howard, the extraordinary daughter of a wealthy manufacturer, who bursts into his life like a shooting star, leaving him dazzled. Beautiful, intelligent and courageous, Anne refuses to conform to the expectations of the men around her, and changes forever everything Paul thought he knew about women. From the slaughter of Assaye to the bloody battlefields of Portugal and Spain, this is the first book in the Peninsular War Saga which follows Paul through war, danger, loss, triumph and an unforgettable love story."For 40 years I've been fascinated by this period of history and have read everything I could get my hands on, history, biography, memoirs and fiction. This series is the best fiction I've ever read - fantastically well-researched and historically accurate, with wonderfully drawn characters and relationships." (Amazon UK review)

Salamanca 1812

Salamanca 1812 PDF Author: Ian Fletcher
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1846036291
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 96

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Book Description
Salamanca was the most decisive battle of the entire Peninsular War. Wellington smashed Marmont's French Army and his pursuit of its shattered remnants led to the famous cavalry charge of the King's German Legion at Garcia Hernandez. There would be two more years of sieges and hard fighting before the Iron Duke crossed the Pyrenees into France but from Salamanca the British and their Portuguese and Spanish allies always had the upper hand. Ian Fletcher examines this important battle in detail and also discusses the campaign which led up to it.

The Lines of Torres Vedras

The Lines of Torres Vedras PDF Author: John Grehan
Publisher: Spellmount, Limited Publishers
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
This text examines in detail the role of one of the most important fortifications in military history, the Lines of Torres Vedras, in the Peninsular war, 1809 to 1812.

Marshal William Carr Beresford

Marshal William Carr Beresford PDF Author: Marcus de la Poer Beresford
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781788550321
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Marshal William Carr Beresford is the story of a celebrated and distinguished Irishman who served as Commander in Chief of the Portuguese army for eleven years. The book follows the trajectory of Beresford's extensive military career. Born the illegitimate son of the 1st Marquis of Waterford, Beresford joined the British army in 1785, serving in the Mediterranean, Egypt, South Africa, and South America, before further distinguishing himself as Marshal of the Portuguese forces during the Peninsular War. Sent to Portugal to rebuild its army in the fight against Napoleon, Beresford was so successful that the Duke of Wellington integrated the Portuguese and British armed forces in that struggle. Beresford is revealed as a trusted friend and confidant of Wellington, a relationship that was to endure for the rest of their lives.