The Peninsular War and Napoleon's Downfall

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The Peninsular War was a pivotal conflict in the Napoleonic Wars, marking the decline of Napoleon's Empire. It involved Spain, Portugal, and France, with Britain aiding the Iberian nations. The war saw the rise of guerrilla tactics and ended with the restoration of Ferdinand VII to the Spanish throne, significantly weakening French power and contributing to Napoleon's eventual abdication.

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Napoleon's self-coronation year

1804, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of France, marking peak power.

Purpose of the Continental System

To weaken Britain economically by embargoing British trade.

Treaty of Tilsit significance

1807, established peace with Russia, after victories over Austria and Prussia.

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The Ascendancy and Decline of Napoleon's Empire

Napoleon Bonaparte's meteoric rise to power reached its zenith when he crowned himself Emperor of France in 1804. His military prowess was unmatched, as evidenced by his victories over Austria and Prussia and the establishment of the Treaty of Tilsit with Russia in 1807. The Continental System, an embargo against British trade, was Napoleon's strategy to undermine Britain's economic strength. However, the Peninsular War, which erupted in 1808, marked the beginning of his empire's downfall. The conflict in Spain and Portugal drained French resources and morale, setting the stage for Napoleon's eventual abdication in 1814.

French and British soldiers clash in a Peninsular War battle, with muskets firing and bayonets thrusting amidst a smoke-filled, hilly backdrop.

The Peninsular War: A Crucial Chapter in European History

The Peninsular War, a protracted struggle on the Iberian Peninsula involving Spain, Portugal, and France, was a watershed moment in European history. Initially, Spain was a French ally, but the relationship soured after Napoleon's invasion and the installation of his brother Joseph as the Spanish king. This incursion sparked the Iberian Revolt and a widespread guerrilla war against French occupation. The British, under Sir Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington, provided vital support to the Spanish and Portuguese, significantly hindering Napoleon's ambitions in the region.

The Continental System and the Treaty of Fontainebleau

The Continental System was Napoleon's grand scheme to isolate Britain economically by prohibiting European nations from trading with it. The Treaty of Fontainebleau in 1807, an agreement between France and Spain, intended to carve up Portugal, which had remained allied with Britain. The French invasion forced the Portuguese royal family to relocate to Brazil. However, the treaty also foreshadowed the betrayal of Spain, as French troops unexpectedly turned on their ally, aiming to consolidate French hegemony over the entire peninsula.

The Deterioration of Franco-Spanish Relations

The Franco-Spanish alliance was compromised by Spain's political turmoil and its failure to support France militarily, as seen in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 where the combined fleets were defeated by Britain. Napoleon's distrust of Spain grew upon discovering its clandestine negotiations with Britain. Additionally, the internal strife between King Charles IV and his son, Ferdinand VII, provided Napoleon with a pretext to intervene. His invasion and the subsequent installation of his brother as king of Spain ignited the Peninsular War.

The Advent of Guerrilla Warfare and British Intervention

The French occupation of Spain catalyzed the Iberian Revolt, with the Spanish populace engaging in guerrilla warfare, a term that originated from this conflict. These irregular tactics effectively disrupted French control. Meanwhile, the British expeditionary force, led by Wellesley, landed in Portugal, thwarting French attempts to subdue the region and bolstering the Spanish resistance. This strategic British involvement was instrumental in preventing French dominance in the Iberian Peninsula.

The Russian Campaign's Repercussions and the Sixth Coalition

Napoleon's ill-fated invasion of Russia in 1812 resulted in a devastating loss for the Grande Armée. The campaign's failure weakened French military presence in the Iberian Peninsula, allowing the Anglo-Portuguese-Spanish alliance to mount a successful counter-offensive, culminating in the Battle of Vitoria in 1813. The Russian debacle, coupled with the setbacks in Spain, galvanized the formation of the Sixth Coalition, comprising Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia, and now Spain and Portugal, which was resolute in its aim to overthrow Napoleon's regime.

The End of the Peninsular War and Napoleon's Abdication

The War of the Sixth Coalition continued until 1814, culminating in Napoleon's defeat and forced abdication. The French retreat from the Iberian Peninsula led to Joseph Bonaparte's abdication from the Spanish throne and the restoration of Ferdinand VII. The Peninsular War, costly in terms of French manpower and morale, was a decisive phase in the Napoleonic Wars. It not only freed Spain and Portugal from French dominion but also proved that Napoleon's seemingly invincible military could be vanquished.

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The Peninsular War and Napoleon's Downfall

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Summary

Outline

The Peninsular War and Napoleon's Downfall

Napoleon's Rise to Power

Military Victories

The Continental System