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CHAPTER XXVI
The French Invasion of Spain and subsequent Peninsular War.
WHAT open force could not effect was carried by intrigue and treachery. Napoleon having invited Charles IV., king of Spain, to a conference at Bayonne, seized his person, compelled him to abdicate, and transferred the crown to Joseph Lonaparte, whose place at Naples was soon after occupied by Murat, Napoleon's brotherin-law. Spain was filled with French troops and no opposition was dreaded; but as soon as the Spaniards recovered from their consternation, the people rose in all parts, and proclaimed Ferdinand VII. The patriots began the war with great spirit; the usurper fled from Madrid, whilst Palafox and the brave inhabitants of Saragossa gained immortal honor by the invincible courage they displayed in defending their town against the furious attacks of the French, who were eventually compelled to retreat.
The Portuguese followed the example of the Spaniards; and a British army, commanded by Sir Arthur Wellesley, landed and defeated the French general Junot at Vimiera. But Sir Hugh Dalrymple arriving to assume the command, the convention of Cintra was entered into, by which the French army, with all its baggage, artillery, etc., were to be conveyed to France. An English army of 30,000 men, under Sir John Moore, landed in Spain, and advanced as far as Salamanca; but the French force in that country amounted to 150,000. Madrid was taken; and the English, not being well supported by the Spaniards, were compelled to retreat. At Corunna a severe battle was fought, and Sir John Moore was mortally wounded.
Austria having declared war against France, Napoleon entered the field; repulsed the Austrians at Eckmuhl, and took possession of Vienna. The archduke Charles gave him battle near Essling, which was desperately contested, and terminated in favor of the Austrians; but soon after, at Wagram, the French gained an important victory. The brave Tyrolese in this campaign made the most heroic efforts against the French; but the patriot Hofer was taken and shot.
A most unsuccessful expedition was undertaken by the English against Antwerp. It was composed of nearly 40,000 men; great numbers of whom were swept off by a pestilential fever while in possession of the island of Walcheren: and the remainder returned without effecting any useful object. In other parts the English were more successful, having taken Cayenne, Martinique, and three of the Ionian islands.
In Turkey the sultan Selim had been assassinated; Mahmoud was seated on the throne; and peace was concluded between the Porte and Great Britain. After a protracted negotiation with Napoleon, the emperor of Austria signed the treaty of Vienna, by which he was obliged to surrender to France, Bavaria, and Russia a considerable portion of his dominions.
Sir Arthur Wellesley had now the chief command in the Peninsula. He forced the passage of the Douro, recovered Oporto, and drove Soult out of Portugal. He then defeated the French, with great slaughter, at Talavera; but the enemy being reinforced, he was obliged to retreat. His great services were, however, duly appreciated, and he was created baron Wellington. At the close of 1809 the Spanish patriots sustained some severe defeats, and Gerona was taken by them. Marshals Junot and Ney commenced the ensuing campaign with the capture of Astora and Cuidad Rodrigo; while Massena entered Portugal, and took Almeida. At Busaco Lord Wellington defeated him; and, reaching the impregnable lines of Torres Vedras, he took up a strong position, from which the French could not dislodge him; and Massena soon afterwards commenced a disastrous retreat. The campaign of 1811 was distinguished by a series of battles, in which the contending armies displayed great bravery, but without any decided advantage to either in the end. Among those in which the allies were most successful, were Badajoz, Albuera, and Barrosa. The year 1811 was also memorable as the period when the Spanish American colonies began to renounce their allegiance to Spain, and struggle for independence.
In 1812 the events of the war assumed a new complexion. A change had taken place in the government of Spain, and more earnestness and energy was displayed in its councils. Lord Wellington commenced with the capture of Cuidad Rodrigo and Badajoz; then advancing into Spain, he gained a decisive victory over Marmont near Salamanca; which was followed by his entrance into Madrid, where he was received with the most enthusiastic acclamations. In the meantime the patriot armies in the north of Spain were eminently successful; and in the south the French were compelled to raise the siege of Cadiz, and evacuate Granada, Cor-. dova, Seville, etc. (