Vimeiro 1808

A fully illustrated exploration of the British fight against Junot's forces occupying Portugal.

An account of the Battle of Vimeiro in 1808. The battle was part of a string of victories over the French for the future Duke of Wellington. It liberated Portugal from French occupation and secured the vital base from which to prosecute the war in Spain.In August 1808, a 14,000-man British army landed at Figura da Fozin Portugal under the future Wellington, Sir Arthur Wellesley. General Andoche Junot had 25,000 French troops in Portugal but these were scattered trying to contain the Portuguese. A 6,000-strong French force under General de Laborde was sent against the British. Wellesley outmanoeuvred his opponent and, at Rolica on 17 August, defeated the French. The suprized French mustered a further 13,000 men and hoped to defeat the British quickly as more troops were arriving from England. Junot met Wellesley (16,000 British, 2,000 Portuguese) at Vimeiro on 21 August.