I am in duty bound to acknowledge the very kind assistance of three helpers in the construction of this volume. The first compiled the Index, after grappling with the whole of the proofs. The second, Mr. C. E. Doble, furnished me with a great number of suggestions as to revision, which I have adopted. The third, Mr. C. T. Atkinson, of Exeter College, placed at my disposition his wide knowledge of British regimental history, and put me in the way of obtaining many details as to the organization of Wellesley’s and Moore’s armies. I am infinitely obliged to all three. C. OMAN. ALL SOULS COLLEGE, _March 31, 1902_. CONTENTS SECTION I NAPOLEON AND THE SPANISH BOURBONS CHAPTER PAGE I. The Treaty of Fontainebleau 1 II. The Court of Spain 12 III. The Conquest of Portugal 26 IV. The French aggression in Spain: Abdication of Charles IV 33 V. The Treachery at Bayonne 43 VI. The Second of May: Outbreak of the Spanish Insurrection 57 SECTION II THE LAND AND THE COMBATANTS I. Military geography of the Peninsula: Mountains, Rivers, Roads 72 II. The Spanish Army in 1808 89 III. The French Army in Spain 103 IV. The tactics of the French and their adversaries during the Peninsular War 114 SECTION III SARAGOSSA AND BAYLEN I. Opening of hostilities: the French Invasions of Andalusia and Valencia 123 II. Operations in the North: the siege of Saragossa 140 III. Operations in the North: battle of Medina de Rio Seco 163 IV. Dupont in Andalusia: the Capitulation of Baylen 176 SECTION IV THE ENGLISH IN PORTUGAL I. The outbreak of the Portuguese Insurrection 206 II. Landing of the British: combat of Roliça 220 III. Vimiero 242 IV. The Convention of Cintra 263 V. The French evacuate Portugal 279 VI. The Court of Inquiry 291 SECTION V THE STRUGGLE IN CATALONIA I. Duhesme’s operations: first siege of Gerona (June-July, 1808) 301 II. The struggle continued: the second siege of Gerona (July-August, 1808) 322 SECTION VI THE CONSEQUENCES OF BAYLEN