Peninsular War Timeline of Events

Home / Timelines / Peninsular War

Peninsular War

The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its ally, Spain...

Timeline of Events

1808

5.2.1808

Outbreak of the Peninsular War: The people of Madrid rise up in rebellion against French occupation. Francisco de Goya later memorializes this event in his painting The Second of May 1808.

5.3.1808

Peninsular War: The Madrid rebels who rose up on May 2 are fired upon near Príncipe Pío hill.

8.21.1808

Battle of Vimeiro: British and Portuguese forces led by General Arthur Wellesley defeat French force under Major-General Jean-Andoche Junot near the village of Vimeiro, Portugal, the first Anglo-Portuguese victory of the Peninsular War.

1809

1.16.1809

Peninsular War: The British defeat the French at the Battle of La Coruña.

3.28.1809

Peninsular War: France defeats Spain in the Battle of Medelin.

7.28.1809

Peninsular War: Battle of Talavera

1811

5.16.1811

Peninsular War: The allies Spain, Portugal and Britain, defeat the French at the Battle of Albuera.

1812

1.19.1812

Peninsular War: After a ten day siege, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, orders British soldiers of the Light and third divisions to storm Ciudad Rodrigo.

3.16.1812

Battle of Badajoz (March 16 – April 6) – British and Portuguese forces besiege and defeat French garrison during Peninsular War.

4.6.1812

British forces under the command of the Duke of Wellington assault the fortress of Badajoz. This would be the turning point in the Peninsular War against Napoleon led France.

1813

6.21.1813

Peninsular War: Battle of Vitoria.

8.31.1813

At the final stage of the Peninsular War British-Portuguese troops capture the town of Donostia (now San Sebastián), resulting in a rampage and eventual destruction of the town.