The Peninsular War (1807-1814), also known as the War of Spanish Independence, was a major conflict of the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) that was waged in the Iberian Peninsula by Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom against the invading First French Empire of Napoleon I (r. 1804-1814; 1815). It remains the bloodiest episode in the modern history of Spain.
More about: Peninsular WarDefinition
Timeline
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18 Oct 1807French General Jean-Andoche Junot leads 25,000 troops toward Portugal, sparking the Peninsular War.
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27 Oct 1807The secret Treaty of Foutainebleau is signed between France and Spain, in which it is agreed to occupy and partition Portugal.
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29 Nov 1807The Portuguese royal family evacuates Lisbon as the French army approaches. They will set up a government in exile in Brazil.
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30 Nov 1807Junot occupies Lisbon.
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8 Jan 180830,000 French troops under Marshal Moncey crosses into Spain, occupies key border towns.
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17 Mar 1808 - 19 Mar 1808The Mutiny of Aranjuez. Manuel de Godoy is harassed by an angry mob and nearly lynched; Prince Ferdinand is proclaimed king of Spain.
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2 May 1808Dos de Mayo uprisings in Madrid.
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6 May 1808King Ferdinand VII of Spain is forced to abdicate, is imprisoned.
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6 Jun 1808Joseph Bonaparte is coronated as King of Spain.
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15 Jun 1808 - 14 Aug 1808First Siege of Zaragoza.
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16 Jul 1808 - 19 Jul 1808A Spanish army defeats a French force at the Battle of Bailén, France's first major land defeat since the start of the Napoleonic Wars.
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21 Aug 1808Sir Arthur Wellesley defeats Junot's Army of Portugal at the Battle of Vimeiro.
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4 Dec 1808Napoleon enters Madrid.
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19 Dec 1808 - 20 Feb 1809The Second Siege of Zaragoza results in 64,000 deaths.
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16 Jan 1809The Battle of Corunna results in a successful British evacuation from Iberia, although Sir John Moore is killed.
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28 Jul 1809 - 29 Jul 1809Sir Arthur Wellesley wins the Battle of Talavera, is ennobled as Viscount Wellington.
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26 Oct 1809Wellington orders the construction of the Lines of Torres Vedras, a defensive position.
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5 Feb 1810 - 24 Aug 1812Siege of Cádiz by French troops; results in a Spanish victory.
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27 Sep 1810Battle of Bussaco results in an Anglo-Portuguese victory over a French army.
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16 May 1811The indecisive and bloody Battle of Albuera is fought between French and Anglo-Portuguese troops.
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16 Mar 1812 - 6 Apr 1812The Siege of Badajoz results in an Anglo-Portuguese victory; Wellington's troops pillage the city for three days before order is restored.
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22 Jul 1812Wellington beats Marshal Marmont at the Battle of Salamanca.
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21 Jun 1813A French army under King Joseph and Marshal Jourdan is defeated by Wellington's Allied army at the Battle of Vitoria.
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11 Dec 1813Abdication of Joseph Bonaparte; Ferdinand VII is restored as King of Spain.
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6 Apr 1814First abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte leading to his exile in Elba.
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10 Apr 1814Wellington and Soult clash at the Battle of Toulouse.
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14 Apr 1814Battle of Bayonne results in an Allied victory.
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18 Apr 1814French Marshals Soult and Suchet sign a convention with Wellington; end of the Peninsular War.
