Massena at Bay 1811: The Lines of Torres Vedras to Funtes de Onoro

The 1810 French invasion of Portugal, commanded by Andre Massena, has been well covered by historians. This book tells the story of Wellington's pursuit of Massena back to Spain, when the Peninsular Army was still being forged and Wellington was refining his own art of war. The series of combats fought at Pombal, Redhina, Foz da Arounce and Sabugal were of the same scale and significance as those of 1808, and the general action at Funtes de Onoro was one of Wellington's victories.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 248 pages
\n Publication date: 21 September 2021
\n Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
\n

The 1810 French invasion of Portugal, led by the seasoned marshal Andre Massena, who was known to Napoleon as the "Spoilt Child of Victory," has received extensive historical coverage. Conversely, the shock revelation of the presence of the Lines of Torres Vedras, which paved the French Army of Portugal's way to their objective of Lisbon, and numerous combats leading up to the Battle of Funtes de Onoro, have been frequently and unjustifiably glossed over. This book, which begins with the occupation of the Lines of Torres Vedras, which were at the heart of Wellington's Peninsular strategy from October 1809 to 1812, is the story of Wellington's pursuit of Massena back to Spain. This was a time when the Peninsular Army was still being forged, and Wellington was refining his own art of war. In addition, 1810–1811 was a period when the outcome of the struggle in Iberia was still far from certain, and Wellington could not manoeuvre with the same confidence in the outcome as he could in future years. The series of combats fought at Pombal, Redhina, Foz da Arounce, and Sabugal while Massena was at bay, though not categorized as general actions, were of the same scale and significance as those of 1808; Rolica and Vimiero. The general action at Funtes de Onoro was one of Wellington's most significant victories, but he confessed that "If Bony had been here, we would have been beat."

\n Weight: 748g\n
Dimension: 163 x 239 x 30 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781399001328\n \n