What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Ironsides: The English Expedition to Portugal, 1662-1668
When Charles II returned home he began the search for a dynastic marriage. He fixed upon the Infanta of Portugal, Catherine of Braganza, whose dowry included the possession of Tangier, Bombay and valuable trade concessions. The Portuguese had been fighting for their independence from Spain for twenty years and needed alliances to tip the scales in their favor. In return for the concessions Charles agreed to send to Portugal a regiment of horse and two of foot, which provided an excuse to ship away the remnants of the Cromwellian armies that had not been disbanded at the Restoration. The prospect of service was at first well received - "Major-General Morgan drew forth his regiment of foot consisting of 1000 proper men besides officers, and made a short speech, acquainting them that his Majesty had been graciously pleased to design them for honorable service abroad. . . Whereupon they all with great acclamations of joy, cried out ' All, all, all. . ." There were also officers and men who had remained loyal to the crown to them Charles owed a debt of employment, Former Royalists therefore made up the balance of the regiment of horse - uncomfortable bedfellows for their former enemies.
The English and French regiments fought with courage and discipline at the series of major battles and sieges that followed, most of which have never been properly described. This is, therefore, the rediscovery of a lost episode in our military history. It was the English and French soldiers, under Schomberg's leadership, who proved the decisive factor in winning back Portugal's independence. But in return for their courage in battle, the English soldiers were rewarded with insults and want of pay. At the conclusion of peace in 1667, only 1,000 out of the 3,500 men who made up the force were left standing. 400 of these received what was effectively a death they were shipped to Tangier to join the fight against the Moors. The remainder returned to seek service in England or abroad - but places were hard to find. One veteran of the horse summed up the feelings of many - ". . . there was never a more gallant party went out of England upon any design whatever, than were that regiment of horse. . . they came into the country full of money and gallantry, and those which survived left it as full of poverty and necessity."
The author's detailed but lively text is fully supported by a range of illustrations and specially commissioned maps.
The English and French regiments fought with courage and discipline at the series of major battles and sieges that followed, most of which have never been properly described. This is, therefore, the rediscovery of a lost episode in our military history. It was the English and French soldiers, under Schomberg's leadership, who proved the decisive factor in winning back Portugal's independence. But in return for their courage in battle, the English soldiers were rewarded with insults and want of pay. At the conclusion of peace in 1667, only 1,000 out of the 3,500 men who made up the force were left standing. 400 of these received what was effectively a death they were shipped to Tangier to join the fight against the Moors. The remainder returned to seek service in England or abroad - but places were hard to find. One veteran of the horse summed up the feelings of many - ". . . there was never a more gallant party went out of England upon any design whatever, than were that regiment of horse. . . they came into the country full of money and gallantry, and those which survived left it as full of poverty and necessity."
The author's detailed but lively text is fully supported by a range of illustrations and specially commissioned maps.
222 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2014
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 16, 2017
For my review in the _Michigan War Studies Review_, see here:
http://www.miwsr.com/2017-003.aspx
http://www.miwsr.com/2017-003.aspx
March 29, 2019
A very good book on a rather obscure subject. Although it is more known that the British Army of Charles 11 served at - the poison chalice- Tangier to protect his Portuguese wife's dowry that they also served in the Iberian Peninsula and under the great Schonberg was unknown to me. The maps and illustrations are very good and I recommend this Helion book that is up to their usual excellent standard.
December 3, 2015
Super book about the VERY first peninsular war , 1662-8
The remnants of the new model hired to spill their blood in the cause of portugese independence .. a great story well told
The remnants of the new model hired to spill their blood in the cause of portugese independence .. a great story well told
August 16, 2024
This short book is a neat glimpse on an understudied campaign, at least in English.
While the book's title suggests a focus on the English contingent sent to Portugal as part of Charles II's alliance with that state against Spain, the scope is actually much wider than this.
The English (and Irish, etc) are given centre stage to be sure, but much is also said about the French units, about the commander Schomberg who was French, about the politics of Europe at the time, and about the Portuguese War of Independence as a whole. At least in its later stages.
There are wonderful descriptions of the battles of Ameixial and Montes Claros, with great attention on logistics and matters such as weaponry and marching routines.
Towards the end the author describes the astounding fact that Schomberg did not merely wish to protect Portugal, but hoped to invade Spain! He threatened Vigo and actually took Sanlucar, with an eye towards using them as bases for further advances.
This recalls to mind the campaigns of Wellington, and Riley asserts that Wellington studied the campaigns of Schomberg where he perhaps derived some inspiration.
The final chapter wraps up the story of the English and Irish soldiers and officers who served, and is something of a postscript briefly describing the British occupation of Tangier.
All in all a very worthwhile read and a much appreciated work for anyone interested in the seventeenth century decline of Spain, European warfare in general, or the English Civil War and Restoration periods.
While the book's title suggests a focus on the English contingent sent to Portugal as part of Charles II's alliance with that state against Spain, the scope is actually much wider than this.
The English (and Irish, etc) are given centre stage to be sure, but much is also said about the French units, about the commander Schomberg who was French, about the politics of Europe at the time, and about the Portuguese War of Independence as a whole. At least in its later stages.
There are wonderful descriptions of the battles of Ameixial and Montes Claros, with great attention on logistics and matters such as weaponry and marching routines.
Towards the end the author describes the astounding fact that Schomberg did not merely wish to protect Portugal, but hoped to invade Spain! He threatened Vigo and actually took Sanlucar, with an eye towards using them as bases for further advances.
This recalls to mind the campaigns of Wellington, and Riley asserts that Wellington studied the campaigns of Schomberg where he perhaps derived some inspiration.
The final chapter wraps up the story of the English and Irish soldiers and officers who served, and is something of a postscript briefly describing the British occupation of Tangier.
All in all a very worthwhile read and a much appreciated work for anyone interested in the seventeenth century decline of Spain, European warfare in general, or the English Civil War and Restoration periods.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews