Invaders not Welcome
Once upon a time there was an emperor that tried to bring most of Europe under French rule. He planned to make France great and put Britain out of business on the Continent. To that extent Napoleon instituted a commercial blockade against Britain on the Continent, and got most of the European kingdoms to sign it. He had problems with two of them, though. Portugal and Russia complied, but not as well as Napoleon would have liked. In 1807 General Junot invaded Portugal. He did it overland, because the Spanish king, Carlos III, involved in a family dispute with his son and heir, Fernando VII, allowed him to do so. Along the way the French took note of the Spanish defense. In 1808 the French formally invaded Spain. The Spanish royal family was taken to France, and Napoleon's brother, Joseph, was named King of Spain. Napoleon's troops invaded all of Spain and occupied the most important cities.
Here in Galicia there was a battle in A Coruña between the British and the French. Technically, the British won because they were able to evacuate their men and equipment, but the French remained in charge of the city. Sir John Moore, the British leader, fell, and his tomb can still be seen in the Jardines de San Carlos, in the old section of the city.
The first city to liberate itself from the French, though, was Vigo. With two British ships offshore, and surrounded by hostile villagers, Marshal Soult took most of his men south to Porto, to regain that city. He left behind a little over a thousand men in Vigo. On the night of the 27th of March, 1809, Vigo turned the tables on the French. For weeks before, the city had had its doors closed, but the situation was becoming intolerable. So they were opened at certain hours to allow food to be brought in. Along with the food came conspirators and plans. So, the city was easily taken, with a minimum of loss of life. The surviving French soldiers were taken prisoner aboard the British ships. French soldiers who had been sent from Tui to defend against the insurrectors were defeated. That was the turning point of the Peninsular War. By the end of May, 1809, all of Galicia was freed from the French, who did not return. The war would continue until April of 1814 with the capitulation of the French at Bayonne.
To commemorate that anniversary, there is a festival in Vigo this weekend, the Festa da Reconquista (Festival of the Reconquest). There will be music in the streets, activities for children, exhibitions of clothes and professions from the time of the Peninsular War, fairs, and recreations of the rousting of the French. It's a way of remembering history and passing on the memory to the next generation. It's good to keep alive the stories and memories of the past. In fact, I don't remember who told me or when, but some villagers fought with French soldiers in some woods nearby. Probably the soldiers were taking provisions where they found them, and the owners were seeing themselves facing a hungry winter. Most people don't take kindly to being invaded and having their property taken. Modern-day countries would do well to keep that in mind.
Here in Galicia there was a battle in A Coruña between the British and the French. Technically, the British won because they were able to evacuate their men and equipment, but the French remained in charge of the city. Sir John Moore, the British leader, fell, and his tomb can still be seen in the Jardines de San Carlos, in the old section of the city.
The first city to liberate itself from the French, though, was Vigo. With two British ships offshore, and surrounded by hostile villagers, Marshal Soult took most of his men south to Porto, to regain that city. He left behind a little over a thousand men in Vigo. On the night of the 27th of March, 1809, Vigo turned the tables on the French. For weeks before, the city had had its doors closed, but the situation was becoming intolerable. So they were opened at certain hours to allow food to be brought in. Along with the food came conspirators and plans. So, the city was easily taken, with a minimum of loss of life. The surviving French soldiers were taken prisoner aboard the British ships. French soldiers who had been sent from Tui to defend against the insurrectors were defeated. That was the turning point of the Peninsular War. By the end of May, 1809, all of Galicia was freed from the French, who did not return. The war would continue until April of 1814 with the capitulation of the French at Bayonne.
To commemorate that anniversary, there is a festival in Vigo this weekend, the Festa da Reconquista (Festival of the Reconquest). There will be music in the streets, activities for children, exhibitions of clothes and professions from the time of the Peninsular War, fairs, and recreations of the rousting of the French. It's a way of remembering history and passing on the memory to the next generation. It's good to keep alive the stories and memories of the past. In fact, I don't remember who told me or when, but some villagers fought with French soldiers in some woods nearby. Probably the soldiers were taking provisions where they found them, and the owners were seeing themselves facing a hungry winter. Most people don't take kindly to being invaded and having their property taken. Modern-day countries would do well to keep that in mind.
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