Wellington Against Massena: The Third Invasion of Portugal 1810 - 1811

Colecção Trajectos

by David Buttery

Wellington's clash with Massena was one of the most remarkable contests between two commanders in the Peninsular War. These two formidable generals carried on a campaign of maneuver, battle and attrition across Spain and Portugal in 1810 and 1811 which had a decisive impact on the outcome of the war. Wellington's reputation was enhanced, Massena's was ruined.

David Buttery's close analysis of this extraordinary encounter offers a penetrating insight into the personalities of these two outstanding soldiers. Using a variety of sources, in particular eyewitness accounts from both sides, he reassesses the famous confrontations at Ciudad Rodrigo, Almeida, Busaco, the lines of Torres Vedras and the final bitterly fought battle at Fuentes de Oñoro.

He sheds new light on this pivotal episode in the Napoleonic Wars and his account corrects the one-sided view of the campaign that has survived to the present day. In particular he reconsiders the true cost of the scorched earth policy that was employed against the French

Genres: History, Military History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2007

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent account of the 3rd invasion of Portugal in 1810-1811. A rugged and brutal campaign for several reasons, this book does an admirable job explaining what went wrong for the French. Massena arrived with a laudable reputation, but left well short of victory, not all of which was his fault.

[Jonathan Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Added a lot more detail to Massena's retreat from Portugal which tends to be glossed over in more general Peninsular War histories.

[Paulo Teixeira · Rating 4 out of 5]

(PT) A campanha da terceira invasão de Portugal por parte dos franceses, entre 1810-11, pelo general Massena, e como eles foram derrotados pela competência do marechal Wellington, que com planeamento, capacidade e alguma sorte, conseguiu alguns dos seus melhores sucessos na sua carreira. O livro explica a campanha em ambos os lados e explica as chaves para o sucesso, muito além do Buçaco e sobretudo, das Linhas de Torres.