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The Peninsular War guerrilla and its antecedents: humiliation forgotten, disaster prefigured: the guerra fantástica of 1762

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  • Charles Esdaile

Abstract

The brief war that took place between Spain and Portugal in 1762 is one of the least known episodes in the latter’s military history, whereas, thanks to Wellington’s construction of the Lines of Torres Vedras, the French invasion of 1810–11 is right at the other end of the spectrum. Yet the two episodes are closely linked to one another. At the very least, they are uncannily reminiscent in terms of their details – in both cases substantial foreign armies were vanquished through a combination of irregular resistance, scorched-earth tactics and the clever use of field fortifications – and the article therefore argues that Wellington based the plan that defeated the forces of Marshal Massena on the strategy used by the Portuguese half a century earlier.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles Esdaile, 2019. "The Peninsular War guerrilla and its antecedents: humiliation forgotten, disaster prefigured: the guerra fantástica of 1762," Small Wars and Insurgencies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(4-5), pages 734-749, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:fswixx:v:30:y:2019:i:4-5:p:734-749
    DOI: 10.1080/09592318.2019.1638536
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