Synopses & Reviews
Osprey are confident in boasting that this remarkable three-part study will transform the research material available to the English-speaking student of the Peninsular War (1808-1814). Most know that Wellington's Portuguese troops were praised as the 'fighting cocks' of his army; fewer appreciate that they represented between half and one-third of his entire forces. Similarly, most uniform historians have been limited to a few half-understood paintings by Dighton, and brief notes from secondary sources. René Chartrand's recent primary research in Portuguese and British archives now offers a wealth of important new material. An excellent book - groundbreaking in its originality.
Synopsis
This volume is the first of two covering the organization, uniforms and weapons of the Portuguese Army in Europe during the Napoleonic Wars. Based on Portuguese as well as newly discovered British documents, this study comprises the most extensive source yet published in English on the material culture of these forces between 1806 and 1815. In this volume Rene Chartrand examines the background to the ancient alliances of Britain and Portugal, and the formative events of the War of the Oranges, the army reforms that followed in 1806, and the French invasion of Portugal in 1807. Also the descriptions of the service, battle record and uniform of each regular regiment in the Peninsular War from 1808 to 1814.
About the Author
René Chartrand was born in Montreal and educated in Canada, the United States and the Bahamas. A senior curator with Canada's National Historic Sites for nearly three decades, he is now a freelance writer and historical consultant for cinema and historic sites restorations. He has written numerous articles and books including almost 20 Osprey titles and the first two volumes of Canadian Military Heritage. Also a student of wines, he currently lives in Hull, Quebec, with his wife and two sons.