I am currently reading Marcus de la Poer Beresford "Marshall William Carr Beresford". The best Portuguese troops were used by Napoleon in the Grande Armée. At the battle of Smolensk certain regiments crossed a bridge on fire in order to pursuit the Russians which they did with success. The troops that remained were dismantled by Junot. Those are huge points that need to be taken in account when looking at the state of the army by the British arrival. By the time the first British troops arrived there was some suspicion to their interests. As so not all Portuguese troops were commited to support the British. After the infamous "Convenção de Sintra" there was much resentment towards British intentions on the peninsula. The second invasion of Portugal and the late arrival of troops to Porto also made the population quite angry. The looting and the "ponte de barcas" events are still embedded to our language to this day. For example when someone dies we say "Foi para o maneta" which mean "he went to the one hand" (General Loison who was missing one hand and was brutal with his looting and reprisals). The 3rd invasion was the time where our alliance shone more. The battle of Bussaco as well as the rest of the retreat to the lines of Torres Vedras are still celebrated to this day. I'm not surprised at all at the desertions on 1813/1814. Portugal was freed. Freeing Spain wasn't for sure in the interest of portuguese soldiers who knew little of major strategy. Also it wasn't so long ago the "Guerra das Laranjas" and the first Invasion of Portugal in which Spanish troops were present against Portugal. In any case it was suggested that for the 100 days portuguese regiments were sent to help the British. This was rejected because of the state of the nation. Beresford did restructure the Portuguese army and made it a fine and precise tool. But there is something left out of history. After the Napoleonic wars were over Beresford remained in Portugal and reprised portuguese revolutions that wished the return of the king. For that reason in 1820 the British were expelled after burning Gomes Freire de Andrade. It seems to me as a Portuguese that this alliance was used to open a British front on land against Napoleon. I am grateful for the British support during the war but I can't deny the presence of political intentions. At any case I really enjoyed the video and I am enjoying the Peninsular war series. If any help is needed with pronunciation I can help. Thanks for taking the time to read this text.
Hey, Miguel, I'm a Brazilian student who is doing a serie of videos of the pensinsular war in portuguese, can I have a chat with u sometime to add more of the portuguese perspective over the war?
Thank you so much for the video, i really appreciate it. As a Portuguese descendant of an English officer who fought in the wars on the peninsula - George d'Avelens, I feel very proud of what the two peoples achieved against French aggression.
My Great Great Grandfather William Gordon, originally of the 78th Foot, was attached to the Portuguese in the Peninsular War. He was at Salamanca, Nivelle and San Sebastion. At Nivelle he was severely wounded while leading the Portuguese 10th Infantry when assaulting a French position. He was awarded the King's Honorary Distinction Medal with Gold cross and clasp for San Sebastion and Nivelle. The King of Portugal promoted him to Captain in the reformed army. He married Donna Mariana de Mello who is my Great Great Grandmother. Their twin sons John James Hood Gordon and Thomas Edward Gordon (my Great Grandfather) were given one free commission (between them!?) in the British Army by Wellington, based on their fathers service. They both ended up as knighted Generals in the Indian Army. William Gordon, the son of a crofter in Sutherland, Scotland, eventually died of his 3 wounds in 1834.
The marriage between Luso and Brit people had produced very special people. I just knew that the man who defeated the bull in the movie Quo Vadis 1950 (the real man, not the actor), Salvador Barreto had a Portuguese father and a Brit mother.
Very interesting and enjoyable. Portugal is a beautiful country. I had the good pleasure to visit there many years ago. As a history nerd I went to as many museums and castles as I could in the short time there while my wife and friends went shopping of course. Regards from Canada!
This video is awesome. It Is very good to ear the british perspective from you about the portuguese army during the napoleonic wars. Here in Portugual we call it "The French Invasions". Good work in deed!
Top drawer yet again, thanks! And yes, in relation to what you and Mr. Beresford said, I think that three aspects of the victory on the Peninsula that tend to be under-emphasized are: (1) the British endearing themselves to the local Portuguese and Spanish populations by paying for supplies rather than pillaging them, (2) the ferocious guerilla campaign waged against the French by the same two populations, which paid big dividends to W in terms of the steady tying down and bleeding away of French troops and the equally steady inflow of intelligence on French movements, and, last but not least, as this video attested to, (3) the contributions of the Portuguese and Spanish regular forces.
Excellent analysis. A more detailed video on the Portuguese contribution would be much appreciated. And fascinated to hear of the contribution Portuguese troops made to the Grand Armee in Russia in 1812
Another brilliant episode mate. Really articulate input by Marcus! Apparently there's an upcoming film about Napoleon with Joaquin Phoenix, I hope this makes having an interest in the Napoleonic wars more mainstream!
Thank you , another brilliant video. Have you considered doing any videos on the English Civil Wars aka the wars of the three kingdoms and the creation of the redcoats new modeled army?
Glad you enjoyed it! I'll be honest the English Civil War is a bit outside of my area of interest. I doubt I'd cover anything before the 7 years war. But you never know!
Great stuff. I love learning more about PT history. Perhaps the free world's oldest, most loyal, and best ally. Always punching above its weight and the most magical land and people ever.
Brilliant Christian, short, but o so sweet, would really like to hear more about the Portuguese Army, seems to be glossed over a little, looks like a library trawl.
@@redcoathistory... I visited it, you can still see parts of it, it still there! Wellington at his best, a master at defence! Napoleon a man of destiny! One can't help to admire him! - To die is easy, but to live defeated and without glory is to die every day!
Even a few years before, in the oranges war (I dont know if its the same oranges war for the British), but its with the usual suspects: Portugal + Britain againsts Spanish + French, so the famous Spanish minister Manuel de Godoy wrote in his memories that the most important victories were not achieved by the Anglo Luso regular forces, but by the Portuguese peasants (all Portuguese men were forced to be part of the defensive army, until they were 60 years old) they fought hard until the French and the Spanish ran way from Portugal.
Anyone who has taken a detailed interest in the Peninsula War will be aware of the Portuguese contribution, and the fact that their units were considered the equal of their British comrades by those British officers in a position to know. It's perfectly understandable why its soldiers might desert; the danger to Portugal had ended, it was easier for them than for British, and it was a harsh world in which to be responsible and for a family. It's also natural that memoirs by British soldiers are almost exclusively from a British perspective, especially regimental histories.
Qual rei? The rei that led Portugal 🇵🇹 to disaster at Alcácer Quibir, or the rei that fled Portugal for Brazil and took everything with him, leaving the Portuguese people to fend for themselves?
@@TagusMan The rei that fucking fought against his own mother, the Rei that put us in the map, the Rei that started the colonial empires of Europe, the Rei that beat up the Castilians at Aljubarrota.
This is where Wellington with his free hand , refined / drilled his redcoat men and the Portuguese in his version of volley fire which was more frequent with a superior fire rate to the French line .
There are infantry units whose modern successors include citations n decorations from the Peninsular War. Btw the portuguese army equipment n ordnance as well as the british officers imposed over them were paid by the Portuguese State. We were billed by every piece of equipment our army was equiped with. We were paying for it well into the last quarter of the 19th century with interest accrued. The british officers and especially the british government of the time made Portugal a de facto protectorate until the king returned from Brazil due to a revolution that kicked Beresford out as well as his clique of english officers. Also, the French robbed us blind during all 3 invasions. But the british senior officers n the british government were accomplices at the end of the first invasion with the convention of Sintra. They not only carried Junot's army to France using the royal navy, they explicitly stipulated they could carry all the booty the french took from churches, monasteries, royal n private palaces n national monuments . Atthevsame time the british government because they wanted direct access to the brazilian market bypassing Portugal, encouraged the King's first born to rebel after the king returned to Portugal from Brazil.Btw, the british attacked Macau during this period with the excuse of taking it into safekeeping from a non existent french threat. The local governor beat the crap out of the royal navy n the redcoats. To the point where the Canton Imperial governor offering help to the local governor in case the royal navy n the red coats came back. With allies such as this who needs enemies...
@@asc3184 There's no reason why Britain should have paid for Portugal's liberation, but increasingly through the war, Britain undertook to pay and supply those units fighting alongside them. It was Portugal which asked for help, and it's clear that they were wise to do so. Napoleon had already taken care to remove the best Portuguese soldiers to use elsewhere. leaving a poor lot, but they were soon replaced by far better people. These heavily outnumbered the British officers, and Beresford went out of his way to spread the latter around, and to choose Portuguese speakers when he could. The Britachieved Portugal's economy was understandably hit both by increased expenditure and reduced income, and thus needed loans, which it obtained on the London market. The French habit at the time was to extract as much as they could from conquest. Wellington was instrumental in expelling the French, but two more senior generals were then placed above him, and negotiated the atrocious Convention of Sintra, which, as you say, carried the French home together with stolen loot. Wellesley was ordered to put his name to it. This became a scandal in Britain, and there was an enquiry into the three generals. Fortunately, the two generals were found to be responsible and Wellesley exonerated, while Moore was placed in command.
@@redcoathistory Its quite simple Chris in 1807 Junot dismantled the Portuguese army, conscript some 9 000 men, actually only around 6000 did in fact went to France, to form a mockup Portuguese Legion and of they went from Lisbon to Moscow, in 1820, of the 6000 only around an 100 arrived back in the old country. I written a book, sort of a novel, about that forgotten Napoleonic Portuguese Legion.
The English should be more educated about Portugal. Portugal was the only european country in Europe that did not support the european blocks from Napoleon against England. If Portugal agreed with the Napoleon block against England, England would be destroyed by Napoleon... Portugal 🇵🇹 saved England against the european block from Napoleon.. But this part of history the English don't like to talk about.
@@redcoathistory I did watch the video, and I don't criticized the video. I am taking about English historian's. Tell me the name of book of English history that is saying that Portugal saved England during the european continental blockage by Napoleon?
"... Portugal 🇵🇹 saved England...". As @Conchilha said. Que exagero. You are probably right that in general the British historian could give more relevance to the help of Portugal. And that, even if it is more than true that our own portuguese historian do the same thing in many other historical situations to other nations. Those are normal things that we can slowly correct as time goes by. But saying that PT saved England? This brings the question. Did you, in all these years of youtube commenting, ever wrote that PT saved the World because of this or that?
Not mentioned, to my surprise, is that the Portuguese officer corps was bolstered by British army sergeants who had been enticed to enlist in the Portuguese army with the offer of a promotion to the officer corps. Thus the Portuguese army gained an officer corps, some of whose were battle hardened, experienced soldiers. Thus they were /very/ well led. Contrast that with the larger Spanish army, very few of whose officers had combat experience. Plus of course the Portuguese didn't have a memory of Britain as an enemy - Trafalgar was still well within living memory of many Spanish who were veterans of the battle, when the French were an ally.
I don´t think Trafalgar was in living memory of nobody in 1808..As I don´t think the Invasions of El Plata.. were in the living memory of any British in 1808.. And I must remember how Lord Beresford was taken POW by Spaniards in Buenos Aires.... Spain only had (and have) two enemies in the collective mind: Moors (Islam) and Frenchmen... So.. not.. Trafalgar (as Buenos Aires) was not taken in account nor by Spaniards nor by British in 1808-1814.
@@garbancitolentejas486 The Battle of Trafalgar was 1805.. three years before 1808, so unless they had very short memories it was /easily/ in living memory.
@@julianmhall And Buenos Aires took place in 1806 and 1807.. and I don´t think Lord Beresford suffered from Alzheimer... 1805 - 1808 - 1810 is not 2022... There was no Mass Media, nor did people read or listen to radio or watched television or TH-cam channels... nothing... As an Englishman from Liverpool had no idea what had happened to British army in Buenos Aires twice in a row... a Spaniard from Jaén or Cuenca or Gerona had no idea about Trafalgar or Saint Vincent... For a 1808 Spaniard was most important the fact that the British (sorry, he would have said English) were Protestant... Trafalgar, Buenos Aires, Saint Vincent, Tenerife, etc were battles... some defeats some victories...no changed the collective mind.... I think.
@@garbancitolentejas486 you're talking utter rubbish! Read my post again and this time /correctly/. In context I said and I repeat AT THE TIME IN 1808 (not this year OBVIOUSLY) it was three years after 1805 so of course Spaniards remembered Britain as an enemy!
don't forget, by the time Napoleon's army invaded Portugal, the Portuguese were only 50 years removed from their 350 year holy war in Morocco, and their 900 year war against Islam in general. their small population and resources were completely drained from centuries of war, whether it be against Muslims or everyone else on planet earth they were fighting to protect and defend their global maritime empire.
What? The crusade thing had ended 2 dinasties ago. There was the war of the oranges though with the same protagonists (mainly spansih invasion with french support).
Lots of french where killed in the mountains off portugal...the portuguese are looked as kind people...complitedly wrong...every paisent was used to kill animals and hunting....great foot man...knowledge off the country...back them every man had a crazy spirite ...
We have to be grateful to England, in spite of anything, and General Beresford, wich is still being teatched in Portuguese Schools, should be considered a Friend of Portugal.
Safe to say that the Brits needed the Portuguese and the Portuguese needed the Brits. Without each other, today we might all be speaking French. As historians do, they proselytize and propagandize in order to be more palatable to their audience, this is to be expected from every country and race. The shame is that the Portuguese Crown did not have the foresight or consideration to send their own historians to document the war. But then again, their fleeing to Brazil is indicative of the disregard for their subjects. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it was the Portuguese Crown, who intoxicated with fortune kept the Portuguese poor and illiterate instead of using some of that fortune to build up the Kingdom.
Yes, only the British documented the war. I think only the British know how to read and write probably. There are portuguese sources which I assume you don't care to read. Or the ones who Wellington himself executed. As always the british ally comes with knife in hand. 'But why can't these primatives even write about themselves'
Bit out of date in some ways. Anyone who reads anything about the Peninsula written in the last 30 years recognises the contribution of the Portuguese ... and the Spanish.
@@redcoathistory Didn't say that. What I said was that anyone who has studied the Peninsula in even a cursory way is well aware of the multi-national aspect of the war.
They changed the world, they created t boats the tech, t Maps and routes that Open t world to t Europeans, found t way by sea to Índia...the Spanish found América with portuguese boats ...and its sad that you dont learn that in schools all Over t world...
Why would you "overly praise" someone if it had no worth? Reality is, as was pointed in this video, most of the accounts are from the British side, who obviously would praise themselves over any one else.
For example, something that never sit well with the Portuguese, was the decision made by Wellington to allow the French to return to France, after being defeated in the 1st invasion of Portugal, with all the loot they ransacked from Portuguese Churches, Monasteries and Palaces. Thousands of unique pieces of art, jewellery, etc., from the Portuguese Patrimony where sent to France for no reason and many were lost forever.
@@AshurbanipalSonofAshurhaddon who said they have no worth? they did well. I'm saying they were obviously overpraised, and I'm right 🤷🏻♂️ '''the British would obviously praise themselves''' then you don't know the British - we behave in precisely the opposite way and there are obvious political reasons why we would overly praised the Portuguese... which we obviosly did.
@@greg_4201 The point is, the Brits never "overpraised" the Portuguese, by the contrary, their accounts are for the most part overpraising themselves while ignoring or downplaying the Portuguese. I know the Brits very well, self-indulgence, condemning others for acting in given way when they do the same or worst, sense of superiority and exceptionalism, are all Brit trademarks.
@@AshurbanipalSonofAshurhaddon then your point is garbage. you're talking 100% pure crap 🤦🏻♂️ even just observing the official language and correspondence of the time proves difinitively that praise was high. wtf is wrong with you? to have that completely backwards view of the British you must never have met many... and considering we are literally everywhere that means you never go outside. we're among the most forthcoming, considerate and self-depricating people you can find... 🤷🏻♂️ that's why we are immediately trusted pretty much everywhere we go... people usually tust us over their own. it's an undeniable phenomenon to anyone with eyes. we're basically trained in humility from infancy and to stand on one leg to leave room for the next guy... the only way people can be confused about that is if they are so lost in arrogance and falsely prideful that they can't see past their own ego, or you're so used to a feminine culture where everyone constantly dishes out false flattery and empty platitudes for fear or manipulation. where do you live?
No. I disagree. Accounts of both Portuguese and spainards is they were inferior soldiers and civilization. . The war revealed the difference between rising protestant nations and declining Catholic countries. They were like third world countries in those areas. Yes they could be brought up by British training. . I like this blog but don't do this left wing revisionism to raise the status of inferior peoples in those days. All accounts rightly dismiss thier cociety and military until marginl improvement from imitation.
I love the Portuguese, peace and love from England!
Would like to see more on the Portuguese troops during the war.
I am currently reading Marcus de la Poer Beresford "Marshall William Carr Beresford".
The best Portuguese troops were used by Napoleon in the Grande Armée. At the battle of Smolensk certain regiments crossed a bridge on fire in order to pursuit the Russians which they did with success. The troops that remained were dismantled by Junot. Those are huge points that need to be taken in account when looking at the state of the army by the British arrival.
By the time the first British troops arrived there was some suspicion to their interests. As so not all Portuguese troops were commited to support the British.
After the infamous "Convenção de Sintra" there was much resentment towards British intentions on the peninsula.
The second invasion of Portugal and the late arrival of troops to Porto also made the population quite angry. The looting and the "ponte de barcas" events are still embedded to our language to this day. For example when someone dies we say "Foi para o maneta" which mean "he went to the one hand" (General Loison who was missing one hand and was brutal with his looting and reprisals).
The 3rd invasion was the time where our alliance shone more. The battle of Bussaco as well as the rest of the retreat to the lines of Torres Vedras are still celebrated to this day.
I'm not surprised at all at the desertions on 1813/1814. Portugal was freed. Freeing Spain wasn't for sure in the interest of portuguese soldiers who knew little of major strategy. Also it wasn't so long ago the "Guerra das Laranjas" and the first Invasion of Portugal in which Spanish troops were present against Portugal.
In any case it was suggested that for the 100 days portuguese regiments were sent to help the British. This was rejected because of the state of the nation.
Beresford did restructure the Portuguese army and made it a fine and precise tool.
But there is something left out of history. After the Napoleonic wars were over Beresford remained in Portugal and reprised portuguese revolutions that wished the return of the king. For that reason in 1820 the British were expelled after burning Gomes Freire de Andrade.
It seems to me as a Portuguese that this alliance was used to open a British front on land against Napoleon. I am grateful for the British support during the war but I can't deny the presence of political intentions.
At any case I really enjoyed the video and I am enjoying the Peninsular war series. If any help is needed with pronunciation I can help.
Thanks for taking the time to read this text.
Thanks Miguel - I really appreciate you watching and taking the time to write such a detailed response.
Portugal is a beautiful country, and I really enjoyed visiting it many years ago. Thank you for your comments. Regards from Canada
Hey, Miguel, I'm a Brazilian student who is doing a serie of videos of the pensinsular war in portuguese, can I have a chat with u sometime to add more of the portuguese perspective over the war?
@@LendoHqs possibly yes.
@@miguelcorreia1149 oh, Nice, how can i get in touch with you?
Thank you so much for the video, i really appreciate it. As a Portuguese descendant of an English officer who fought in the wars on the peninsula - George d'Avelens, I feel very proud of what the two peoples achieved against French aggression.
My Great Great Grandfather William Gordon, originally of the 78th Foot, was attached to the Portuguese in the Peninsular War. He was at Salamanca, Nivelle and San Sebastion.
At Nivelle he was severely wounded while leading the Portuguese 10th Infantry when assaulting a French position. He was awarded the King's Honorary Distinction Medal with Gold cross and clasp for San Sebastion and Nivelle. The King of Portugal promoted him to Captain in the reformed army.
He married Donna Mariana de Mello who is my Great Great Grandmother. Their twin sons John James Hood Gordon and Thomas Edward Gordon (my Great Grandfather) were given one free commission (between them!?) in the British Army by Wellington, based on their fathers service. They both ended up as knighted Generals in the Indian Army.
William Gordon, the son of a crofter in Sutherland, Scotland, eventually died of his 3 wounds in 1834.
this is fantastic!! abraço de Portugal
Then you are my brother
@@jfarinhote Olá irmão João. Obrigado pela sua saudação.
The Portuguese won all their main wars, with or without help. Yet, the Brits gave a good help on this one.
The marriage between Luso and Brit people had produced very special people. I just knew that the man who defeated the bull in the movie Quo Vadis 1950 (the real man, not the actor), Salvador Barreto had a Portuguese father and a Brit mother.
Very interesting and enjoyable. Portugal is a beautiful country. I had the good pleasure to visit there many years ago. As a history nerd I went to as many museums and castles as I could in the short time there while my wife and friends went shopping of course. Regards from Canada!
Glad you enjoyed it!
The Portuguese were excellent soldiers. Uplifting to see their contribution acknowledged in this film, Thank you,
Another terrific video. So interesting for me - I live an hour from Bussaco and 10 mins from Redhina 🙂 thank you!
Fantastic - I am jealous!
Sharpes Rifles was always positive about the Portuguese and mixed about the Spanish
We are not mentioned often because we dont need to brag to tell how big we are
This video is awesome. It Is very good to ear the british perspective from you about the portuguese army during the napoleonic wars. Here in Portugual we call it "The French Invasions". Good work in deed!
Top drawer yet again, thanks! And yes, in relation to what you and Mr. Beresford said, I think that three aspects of the victory on the Peninsula that tend to be under-emphasized are: (1) the British endearing themselves to the local Portuguese and Spanish populations by paying for supplies rather than pillaging them, (2) the ferocious guerilla campaign waged against the French by the same two populations, which paid big dividends to W in terms of the steady tying down and bleeding away of French troops and the equally steady inflow of intelligence on French movements, and, last but not least, as this video attested to, (3) the contributions of the Portuguese and Spanish regular forces.
Thanks Chris.
I never knew about Beresford. He was indispensable to Wellington in drilling Wellington's order of battle.
Fantastic.
Excellent analysis. A more detailed video on the Portuguese contribution would be much appreciated. And fascinated to hear of the contribution Portuguese troops made to the Grand Armee in Russia in 1812
Another brilliant episode mate. Really articulate input by Marcus!
Apparently there's an upcoming film about Napoleon with Joaquin Phoenix, I hope this makes having an interest in the Napoleonic wars more mainstream!
Cheers for that. Yeah I hope you are right about the new film sparking interest.
Thank you , another brilliant video.
Have you considered doing any videos on the English Civil Wars aka the wars of the three kingdoms and the creation of the redcoats new modeled army?
Glad you enjoyed it! I'll be honest the English Civil War is a bit outside of my area of interest. I doubt I'd cover anything before the 7 years war. But you never know!
Thank you love your content! Thank you for all the hard graft.
Cheers, James
When you are with your friend you trust and fight for each other. Another great episode, congrats.
Exactly! Thanks a lot to you and your wonderful people 💪🏼👍🏼
Great stuff. I love learning more about PT history. Perhaps the free world's oldest, most loyal, and best ally. Always punching above its weight and the most magical land and people ever.
Excellent and informative, thank you!
Thx for this episode :)
No worries - glad you enjoyed it.
Brilliant Christian, short, but o so sweet, would really like to hear more about the Portuguese Army, seems to be glossed over a little, looks like a library trawl.
Cheers, mel.
Another superb episode. Huzzah sir!
Thankyou, Sir.
Very good, Chris. I look forward to your new projects.
Cheers, Paul! Look forward to chatting soon.
Lovely video, I greatly enjoy the topics you bring up, very happy to have found this rare channel
Thanks a lot!
Great video! 👍 Maybe you have already done this but if not, one day you should go visit the lines of Torres Vedras! 😊
Thanks. I've done a video about the line sbut sadly I have never been to Portugal - maybe one day!
@@redcoathistory... I visited it, you can still see parts of it, it still there! Wellington at his best, a master at defence! Napoleon a man of destiny! One can't help to admire him! - To die is easy, but to live defeated and without glory is to die every day!
The video is really well made! It’s such a pity that the crimes committed to the Portuguese population by Beresford were left out…
I suggest the Naval Battle of Diu, where we Portuguese, highly outnumbered, liberated Indian Ocean trade for Europe, including Britain later on
And a smashing good jpb you did sir
Even a few years before, in the oranges war (I dont know if its the same oranges war for the British), but its with the usual suspects: Portugal + Britain againsts Spanish + French, so the famous Spanish minister Manuel de Godoy wrote in his memories that the most important victories were not achieved by the Anglo Luso regular forces, but by the Portuguese peasants (all Portuguese men were forced to be part of the defensive army, until they were 60 years old) they fought hard until the French and the Spanish ran way from Portugal.
Anyone who has taken a detailed interest in the Peninsula War will be aware of the Portuguese contribution, and the fact that their units were considered the equal of their British comrades by those British officers in a position to know.
It's perfectly understandable why its soldiers might desert; the danger to Portugal had ended, it was easier for them than for British, and it was a harsh world in which to be responsible and for a family.
It's also natural that memoirs by British soldiers are almost exclusively from a British perspective, especially regimental histories.
Viva Portugal!
Viva ó Rei!
Long live Portugal!
Long live the King!
Qual rei? The rei that led Portugal 🇵🇹 to disaster at Alcácer Quibir, or the rei that fled Portugal for Brazil and took everything with him, leaving the Portuguese people to fend for themselves?
@@TagusMan The rei that fucking fought against his own mother, the Rei that put us in the map, the Rei that started the colonial empires of Europe, the Rei that beat up the Castilians at Aljubarrota.
@@TagusMan ...you should read more...
@@TagusMan The only thing that led Portugal to disaster has been the republic
This is where Wellington with his free hand , refined / drilled his redcoat men and the Portuguese in his version of volley fire which was more frequent with a superior fire rate to the French line .
Many British regiments include Peninsula War battles in their honours to this day. Do any current Portuguese units do so?
Good question - I'm afraid I know literally nothing about the modern Portuguese army. . .
There are infantry units whose modern successors include citations n decorations from the Peninsular War. Btw the portuguese army equipment n ordnance as well as the british officers imposed over them were paid by the Portuguese State. We were billed by every piece of equipment our army was equiped with. We were paying for it well into the last quarter of the 19th century with interest accrued. The british officers and especially the british government of the time made Portugal a de facto protectorate until the king returned from Brazil due to a revolution that kicked Beresford out as well as his clique of english officers. Also, the French robbed us blind during all 3 invasions. But the british senior officers n the british government were accomplices at the end of the first invasion with the convention of Sintra. They not only carried Junot's army to France using the royal navy, they explicitly stipulated they could carry all the booty the french took from churches, monasteries, royal n private palaces n national monuments . Atthevsame time the british government because they wanted direct access to the brazilian market bypassing Portugal, encouraged the King's first born to rebel after the king returned to Portugal from Brazil.Btw, the british attacked Macau during this period with the excuse of taking it into safekeeping from a non existent french threat. The local governor beat the crap out of the royal navy n the redcoats. To the point where the Canton Imperial governor offering help to the local governor in case the royal navy n the red coats came back. With allies such as this who needs enemies...
The now Infantry Regiment #1 (pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regimento_de_Infantaria_N.%C2%BA_1) took part in several of those battles.
@@asc3184 There's no reason why Britain should have paid for Portugal's liberation, but increasingly through the war, Britain undertook to pay and supply those units fighting alongside them.
It was Portugal which asked for help, and it's clear that they were wise to do so. Napoleon had already taken care to remove the best Portuguese soldiers to use elsewhere. leaving a poor lot, but they were soon replaced by far better people.
These heavily outnumbered the British officers, and Beresford went out of his way to spread the latter around, and to choose Portuguese speakers when he could. The Britachieved
Portugal's economy was understandably hit both by increased expenditure and reduced income, and thus needed loans, which it obtained on the London market.
The French habit at the time was to extract as much as they could from conquest. Wellington was instrumental in expelling the French, but two more senior generals were then placed above him, and negotiated the atrocious Convention of Sintra, which, as you say, carried the French home together with stolen loot. Wellesley was ordered to put his name to it. This became a scandal in Britain, and there was an enquiry into the three generals. Fortunately, the two generals were found to be responsible and Wellesley exonerated, while Moore was placed in command.
How about doing one on the Portuguese legion of the French army in the peninsular war
Ill be honest my focus is Britain and her allies - I am not very knowledgable about the French army of this era.
@@redcoathistory Its quite simple Chris in 1807 Junot dismantled the Portuguese army, conscript some 9 000 men, actually only around 6000 did in fact went to France, to form a mockup Portuguese Legion and of they went from Lisbon to Moscow, in 1820, of the 6000 only around an 100 arrived back in the old country. I written a book, sort of a novel, about that forgotten Napoleonic Portuguese Legion.
I´m relative of D. Miguel Forjaz; he died without having any children leaving his wealth to his wife side of the family.
It was in Portugal the beginning of the end for napoleon!
The English should be more educated about Portugal.
Portugal was the only european country in Europe that did not support the european blocks from Napoleon against England.
If Portugal agreed with the Napoleon block against England, England would be destroyed by Napoleon...
Portugal 🇵🇹 saved England against the european block from Napoleon..
But this part of history the English don't like to talk about.
Did you watch the video? No one here is minimising the Portuguese contribution.
@@redcoathistory I did watch the video, and I don't criticized the video.
I am taking about English historian's.
Tell me the name of book of English history that is saying that Portugal saved England during the european continental blockage by Napoleon?
Wtf. Que exagero, por favor.
Britain would have not destroyed because it was an Island in 19th Century....
"... Portugal 🇵🇹 saved England...".
As @Conchilha said. Que exagero.
You are probably right that in general the British historian could give more relevance to the help of Portugal. And that, even if it is more than true that our own portuguese historian do the same thing in many other historical situations to other nations.
Those are normal things that we can slowly correct as time goes by.
But saying that PT saved England? This brings the question. Did you, in all these years of youtube commenting, ever wrote that PT saved the World because of this or that?
Not mentioned, to my surprise, is that the Portuguese officer corps was bolstered by British army sergeants who had been enticed to enlist in the Portuguese army with the offer of a promotion to the officer corps. Thus the Portuguese army gained an officer corps, some of whose were battle hardened, experienced soldiers. Thus they were /very/ well led. Contrast that with the larger Spanish army, very few of whose officers had combat experience. Plus of course the Portuguese didn't have a memory of Britain as an enemy - Trafalgar was still well within living memory of many Spanish who were veterans of the battle, when the French were an ally.
I don´t think Trafalgar was in living memory of nobody in 1808..As I don´t think the Invasions of El Plata.. were in the living memory of any British in 1808.. And I must remember how Lord Beresford was taken POW by Spaniards in Buenos Aires....
Spain only had (and have) two enemies in the collective mind: Moors (Islam) and Frenchmen...
So.. not.. Trafalgar (as Buenos Aires) was not taken in account nor by Spaniards nor by British in 1808-1814.
@@garbancitolentejas486 The Battle of Trafalgar was 1805.. three years before 1808, so unless they had very short memories it was /easily/ in living memory.
@@julianmhall And Buenos Aires took place in 1806 and 1807.. and I don´t think Lord Beresford suffered from Alzheimer... 1805 - 1808 - 1810 is not 2022...
There was no Mass Media, nor did people read or listen to radio or watched television or TH-cam channels... nothing... As an Englishman from Liverpool had no idea what had happened to British army in Buenos Aires twice in a row... a Spaniard from Jaén or Cuenca or Gerona had no idea about Trafalgar or Saint Vincent...
For a 1808 Spaniard was most important the fact that the British (sorry, he would have said English) were Protestant... Trafalgar, Buenos Aires, Saint Vincent, Tenerife, etc were battles... some defeats some victories...no changed the collective mind.... I think.
@@garbancitolentejas486 you're talking utter rubbish! Read my post again and this time /correctly/. In context I said and I repeat AT THE TIME IN 1808 (not this year OBVIOUSLY) it was three years after 1805 so of course Spaniards remembered Britain as an enemy!
Os ingleses enviaram as tropas pportuguesas para trás porque a tactica das tropas portuguesas era de queimar tudo....perguntem aos bascos...
Definitely important, they were as well trained as the British regulars.
Come on man! We all know it was Major Sharpe and his band of riflemen! That was some soldiering!
You know that the first boats to protect England coast were portuguese? 1389 ..Portugal send 6 war ships to t south of England to devend it....
If you need to judge the Portuguese commitment to the war then look no further than Torres Vedras.
I’ve done an entire video on it - enjoy 👍🏼💪🏼
William Carr Beresford assisted many families of lost Portuguese soldiers to Britain. Possibly the Madeiran population of Jersey is a result of this!
William request to Admiral Berkeley to return orphaned children and Widows to Britain from Madeira! Jersey Archives!
don't forget, by the time Napoleon's army invaded Portugal, the Portuguese were only 50 years removed from their 350 year holy war in Morocco, and their 900 year war against Islam in general. their small population and resources were completely drained from centuries of war, whether it be against Muslims or everyone else on planet earth they were fighting to protect and defend their global maritime empire.
What? The crusade thing had ended 2 dinasties ago. There was the war of the oranges though with the same protagonists (mainly spansih invasion with french support).
Lots of french where killed in the mountains off portugal...the portuguese are looked as kind people...complitedly wrong...every paisent was used to kill animals and hunting....great foot man...knowledge off the country...back them every man had a crazy spirite ...
And Portugal was still recovering from the huge earthquake in 1755...
And the Fantastic War where they decimated the spanish.
@@goldeniberian3056 And Portugal never defeated France in battle without British assistance in the Napoleonic Wars.
🇵🇹💪👍
We have to be grateful to England, in spite of anything, and General Beresford, wich is still being teatched in Portuguese Schools, should be considered a Friend of Portugal.
Portugal was much more important than the brits, no matter the shameless propaganda of britain arrogants.
Safe to say that the Brits needed the Portuguese and the Portuguese needed the Brits. Without each other, today we might all be speaking French. As historians do, they proselytize and propagandize in order to be more palatable to their audience, this is to be expected from every country and race. The shame is that the Portuguese Crown did not have the foresight or consideration to send their own historians to document the war. But then again, their fleeing to Brazil is indicative of the disregard for their subjects. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it was the Portuguese Crown, who intoxicated with fortune kept the Portuguese poor and illiterate instead of using some of that fortune to build up the Kingdom.
Yes, only the British documented the war. I think only the British know how to read and write probably. There are portuguese sources which I assume you don't care to read. Or the ones who Wellington himself executed. As always the british ally comes with knife in hand. 'But why can't these primatives even write about themselves'
Bit out of date in some ways. Anyone who reads anything about the Peninsula written in the last 30 years recognises the contribution of the Portuguese ... and the Spanish.
Sorry you didn't enjoy it.
@@redcoathistory Didn't say that. What I said was that anyone who has studied the Peninsula in even a cursory way is well aware of the multi-national aspect of the war.
The British soldiers respect the Portuguese soldier.
The problem when you join a stronger Allied you will always might get F**** at the end 😂
They changed the world, they created t boats the tech, t Maps and routes that Open t world to t Europeans, found t way by sea to Índia...the Spanish found América with portuguese boats ...and its sad that you dont learn that in schools all Over t world...
Read between the lines here... the Portuguese were obviously overly praised for political purposes.
Why would you "overly praise" someone if it had no worth? Reality is, as was pointed in this video, most of the accounts are from the British side, who obviously would praise themselves over any one else.
For example, something that never sit well with the Portuguese, was the decision made by Wellington to allow the French to return to France, after being defeated in the 1st invasion of Portugal, with all the loot they ransacked from Portuguese Churches, Monasteries and Palaces. Thousands of unique pieces of art, jewellery, etc., from the Portuguese Patrimony where sent to France for no reason and many were lost forever.
@@AshurbanipalSonofAshurhaddon who said they have no worth? they did well. I'm saying they were obviously overpraised, and I'm right 🤷🏻♂️
'''the British would obviously praise themselves''' then you don't know the British - we behave in precisely the opposite way and there are obvious political reasons why we would overly praised the Portuguese... which we obviosly did.
@@greg_4201 The point is, the Brits never "overpraised" the Portuguese, by the contrary, their accounts are for the most part overpraising themselves while ignoring or downplaying the Portuguese. I know the Brits very well, self-indulgence, condemning others for acting in given way when they do the same or worst, sense of superiority and exceptionalism, are all Brit trademarks.
@@AshurbanipalSonofAshurhaddon then your point is garbage.
you're talking 100% pure crap 🤦🏻♂️
even just observing the official language and correspondence of the time proves difinitively that praise was high. wtf is wrong with you?
to have that completely backwards view of the British you must never have met many... and considering we are literally everywhere that means you never go outside.
we're among the most forthcoming, considerate and self-depricating people you can find... 🤷🏻♂️ that's why we are immediately trusted pretty much everywhere we go... people usually tust us over their own. it's an undeniable phenomenon to anyone with eyes. we're basically trained in humility from infancy and to stand on one leg to leave room for the next guy...
the only way people can be confused about that is if they are so lost in arrogance and falsely prideful that they can't see past their own ego, or you're so used to a feminine culture where everyone constantly dishes out false flattery and empty platitudes for fear or manipulation.
where do you live?
Portugal was never taked by napoleon
Adieu? Portuguese farewell undervalued? 🤔😆
No. I disagree. Accounts of both Portuguese and spainards is they were inferior soldiers and civilization. . The war revealed the difference between rising protestant nations and declining Catholic countries. They were like third world countries in those areas. Yes they could be brought up by British training. . I like this blog but don't do this left wing revisionism to raise the status of inferior peoples in those days. All accounts rightly dismiss thier cociety and military until marginl improvement from imitation.