A Bicentennial (Slightly off-topics)
Two hundred years ago, the Emperor Napoleon was travelling from Paris to Bayonne (South of France and near from the Spanish frontier) to take the command of l’Armee de l’Espagne from his brother Joseph.
After his defeat in Bailén (July of 1808), Joseph retired towards the Ebro River line, leaving the control of Spain to the victorious Spanish armies. The French corps were distributed in a 115 km diameter semi-circle between Bilbao and Pamplona and, due to the inept management of Joseph and the Marechals, were mixed and lacking a strong Reserve. The Spanish Armies advanced in a concentric way against the French winning some minor actions in the way.
However, the arrival of Napoleon changed the situation and in a lightning campaign, the French armies won successively the battles of Espinosa de los Monteros (november 10-11), Gamonal o Burgos(november 10), Tudela (november, 23) and Somosierra (november 30). After a dissuasive bombardment, in december 4, Napoleon entered in Madrid, exactly one month after his arrival to Spain (see the picture).
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Not slightly off topic at all Rafa, for it was Napoleon's past successes that led him to have such great press and in the end (perhaps) have a greater opinion of himself and his army than he should have...that and grossly underestimating his foes. This contempt for his foes may have also come during this 'highpoint' period of his history, for whenever he was present in an operational theatre (along with the vaunted Imperial Guard I might add) there were lightning victories. When he was not personally present, the success was more limited, a la Corunna.
ReplyDeleteKeep on posting, I am following along at least!
I agree with you in that the great opinion about himself was the main cause of his final rout (beneath the alliance of all the European powers against him).
ReplyDeleteThnaks for your support
Regards
Rafa
Rafa - this is all very interesting but er,... don't you have a battle to fight? Gohrde perhaps???
ReplyDeleteIan
I'll do, Striker, I'll do, eith the permission of the virus ha, ha
ReplyDeleteRegards
Rafa