The Battle of Porto took place on March 28, 1809, when the French under Marshal Soult completely defeated the Portuguese under Lima Barreto and Pareiras, outside the city of Porto (traditionally called Oporto by the British). Soult followed up his success by storming the city, with horrible slaughter. It is estimated that 10,000 of the inhabitants perished in the attack. The French lost only 500 men. Combatants Spain United Kingdom Portugal French Empire The Peninsular War (1808–1813) was a major conflict during the Napoleonic Wars, fought on the Iberian Peninsula by an alliance of Spain, Portugal, and Britain against the Napoleonic French Empire. ... Combatants France Spain Commanders Charles de Lefebvre Joaquín Blake Strength 24,000 19,000 Casualties 300 dead or wounded 600 dead or wounded The Battle of Pancorbo was one of the opening engagements in Napoleons invasion of Spain. ... The Battle of Burgos was fought on November 7, 1808, and resulted in a French victory under Marshall Soult against the Spanish under General Belveder. ... The Battle of Espinosa was fought on November 10, - 11, 1808 at Cantabrian mountains and resulted in a French victory under General Victor against the Spanish under Lieutenant General Blake, leading his army of Galicia. ... The Battle of Tudela was a battle during the Peninsular War fought on November 23, 1808 near Tudela, Spain. ... Combatants France Spain Commanders Napoleon I of France Benito de San Juan Strength 45,000 20,000 infantry 16 guns Casualties Unknown 250 dead or wounded The Battle of Somosierra was a battle of the Peninsular War that took place on November 30, 1808 at the Somosierra pass in the... Combatants France Spain Commanders Jeannot de Moncey Édouard Mortier José de Palafox y Melzi Strength 35,500 regulars 33,000 regulars Casualties 10,000 dead 54,000 dead The Second Siege of Saragossa was the second of the two sieges of that city during the Peninsular War and is widly... The Battle of La Coruña took place on January 16, 1809, between 14,000 British under Sir John Moore, and 16,000 French under Marshal Soult, who was endeavouring to prevent the British from evacuating by sea from the port. ... The Battle of Ciudad-Real was fought on March 27, 1809, and resulted in a French victory under General Sebastiani against the Spanish under General Cartojal. ... Combatants France Spain Commanders Claude Victor Gregorio de la Cuesta Strength 13,000 infantry 4,500 cavalry 50 guns 20,000 infantry 3,000 cavalry 30 guns Casualties 1,000 dead or wounded 8,000 dead or wounded 2,000 captured In the Peninsular War, the Battle of Medellín... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Combatants France Spain Commanders Louis Gabriel Suchet Joaquín Blake Strength Unknown Unknown Casualties 1,500 dead or wounded 300 dead or wounded The Battle of Alcañiz resulted in the defeat of General Suchets French army on May 23, 1809 by a Spanish force under General Blake. ... Combatants France Spain Commanders Louis Gabriel Suchet Joaquín Blake Strength 12,000 infantry 14,000 infantry 500 cavalry Casualties 800 dead or wounded 2,000 dead or wounded The Battle of María, also known as the Battle of Belchite, resulted in the defeat of part of General Blake... The Battle of Almonacid was fought on August 11, 1809 during the Peninsular War and resulted in a French victory under General Sebastiani against the Spanish under General Venegas. ... The Lines of Torres Vedras The Lines of Torres Vedras were a line of forts in Portugal built in secrecy between November 1809 and September 1810 during the Peninsular War. ... In the Peninsular War, the Battle of Ocana was fought on November 19, 1809 and resulted in a victory of the French under Marshall Soult against the Spanish under General Don Juan de Arizagua. ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in leap years). ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult, duc de Dalmatie (March 29, 1769 – November 26, 1851) was a French general and statesman, named Marshal of France in 1804. ... Afonso Henrique de Lima Barreto was a Brazilian author, who wrote one of the countrys classics, Triste Fim de Policarpo Quaresma or , describing the adventures of a music- and book-loving odd-ball confronted with Brazils peculiarities at the turn of the century. ... Location    - Country Portugal    - Region Norte  - Subregion Grande Porto  - District or A.R. Porto Mayor Rui Rio  - Party PSD Area 41. ...

Taking command of the British troops in Portugal in April, General Lord Wellesley made a surprise crossing of the Douro. On May 12 he advanced on Porto. Soult retreated, Wellesley took the city and the French lost heavily. Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (c. ... The Douro at Oporto The Douro (Spanish Duero, Latin Durius, Portuguese Douro) is one of the major rivers of Spain and Portugal, flowing from its source near Soria across central Spain and Portugal to its outlet at Oporto. ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ...

This was another name for the Battle of Douro, though Oporto is the more widely recognized name. The British under Wellesley, could not cross the Douro river. For Soult had ordered all the boats destroyed or moved to the North bank. The Douro at Oporto The Douro (Spanish Duero, Latin Durius, Portuguese Douro) is one of the major rivers of Spain and Portugal, flowing from its source near Soria across central Spain and Portugal to its outlet at Oporto. ...

Colonel John Waters was reconnoitring the river east of Porto when he was approached by a Portuguese barber who led him to a point on the bank hidden by brush where there was 'a skiff, a prior of the covent and three or four peasants': partly at Waters' entreaties and partly at the urging of the Prior, the peasants leapt in the skiff with the British officer and crossed the river, bringing back three wine barges that were unguarded on the opposite bank.

When informed of this, Wellesley said; 'well, let the men cross.' Immediately a company of the 3rd Buffs, crossed the river and entered a walled convent overlooking the landing. By the time Soult and the French realized that Wellesley's forces were on the north bank an entire battalion under Rowland Hill had been sent into the convent. This article is about the postal service pioneer. ...

General Foy, who first saw the British crossing, requisitioned a battalion and led an attack on the convent, but was beaten back with heavy losses. Reinforced later in the day to four battalions, he attacked again. By this time however, 3 entire battalions were occupying the convent and surrounding buildings. Again Foy was beaten back. Soult withdrew the troops guarding the Porto boats to reinforce Foy. The people of Porto immediately set out in 'anything that would float' and ferryied more British troops over. Four British battalions were brought over immediately.

Murray's brigade with the 14th Light cavalry, was stationed eastward to cut off the French retreat. Murray failed to do so, and contented himself with skirmishing with the French advance guard. The 14th however, sped after the retreating French and both caused and received considerable casualties.

In Fiction

The battle of Porto is depicted by Bernard Cornwell in Sharpe's Havoc and by Allan Mallinson in An Act of Courage. Bernard Cornwell OBE (born February 23, 1944) is a prolific and popular English historical novelist. ... Sharpes Havoc is a historical novel by Bernard Cornwell set during the Napoleonic Wars . ... Brigadier Allan Mallinson is an English author and serving cavalry officer the British Army. ...