History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France
From the Year 1807 to the Year 1814

This classic history of the Peninsular War was first published by a participant, Lieutenant-Colonel Napier, between 1828 and 1840.

William Francis Patrick Napier (Author)

9781108024181, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 February 2011

666 pages, 8 maps
21.6 x 14 x 3.7 cm, 0.84 kg

Published between 1828 and 1840, Napier's History of the War in the Peninsula was a tremendously influential, if controversial, work. Napier had been actively involved in the campaigns, turning to history in peacetime, in part to refute Southey's account of Sir John Moore. The first volume had a mixed reception, getting both high praise and bitter criticism from participants in the wars. He published several works rebutting his critics while producing the later volumes. Because of his obvious lack of impartiality, modern military historians treat the work with caution, but it remains widely read in the many editions and abridgements which were subsequently produced. Volume 1 covers the period from the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807, which ended war on the eastern front and so left Napoleon free to turn his attention to Iberia, to the aftermath of the death of Sir John Moore, Napier's mentor, at Coruña.

Book I: 1. Introduction
2. Dissensions in the Spanish court
3. Council of Castile refuses to take the oath of allegiance
4. New French corps formed in Navarre
5. First operations of Marshal Bessieres
6. Operations in Catalonia
7. Second operation of Bessieres
8. Dupont marches against Andalusia
Book II: 1. The Asturian deputies received with enthusiasm in England
2. Spanish general Belesta seizes general Quesnel and retires to Gallicia
3. Political and military retrospect
4. Sir A. Wellesley quits his troops and proceeds to Coruña
5. Portuguese take Abrantes
6. The bishop and junta of Oporta aim at the supreme power
wish to establish the seat of government at Oporto
their intrigues
strange proceedings of general Decken
reflections thereupon
Book III: 1. Comparison between the Portuguese and Spanish people
2. Internal political transactions
3. Political position of Napoleon
he resolves to crush the Spanish
his energy and activity
marches his armies from every part of Europe toward Spain
his oration to his soldiers
4. Movements of the Spanish generals on the Ebro, their absurd confidence, their want of system and concert
5. Position and strength of the French and Spanish armies
Book IV: 1. Napoleon arrives at Bayonne
2. Napoleon marches against the capital
forces the pass of Somosierra
3. Sir John Moore arrives at Salamanca
hears of the battle of Espinosa
4. British army advances towards Burgos
5. Sir John Moore retreats towards Vigo
is closely pursued
6. Observations
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Military history [HBW]