After the Defeat at the Siege of Burgos the allied army lead by Wellington makes a run for it across Spain, giving up their recently won territories in Central Spain to French forces who attempt to encircle and trap Wellington and his fleeing forces. In OTL Wellington and much of the Allied Army manages to escape but what if Wellington is captured or killed? Perhaps if the French pursue him more aggressively or already bad weather was worse or the French realize his retreat earlier on?
Wellington Captured After Burgos?
- Thread starter Malta
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Being a Wellington-phobe, I rather like the premise.....
Sounds like it would be a return back to square one for the British in the Peninsular War.
Being a Wellington-phobe, I rather like the premise.....
Sounds like it would be a return back to square one for the British in the Peninsular War.
It certainly sound like it would and actually change the course of the war, but then again my Napoleonic Knowledge is limited to the effects on Germany.
It would only change the overall course of the war if it released French units to serve in the East. France would still be bleeding in Spain from guerilla war, even if the British discontinued their efforts.
It may be that you'd have to have both a decisive British defeat in Spain, coupled with a way for France to largely disengage from Spain PLUS either a victorious campaign in Russia or a less costly one, for there to be a massive change in the ultimate outcome in the Napoleonic Wars.
Hello, Lusitanian Republic. Or kingdom. Is there a spare Bonaparte for throne-sitting duty?
unprincipled peter
Donor
the lines of Torres Vedras are still there. Wellington is the top dog in the penninsula, but at that point, it's not like he's the entire military, and everyone else are the keystone cops. It's not a sudden return in late 1807 where the Portuguese are prostrate with fear and ineptitude.
Meanwhile, by this point, France still has troubles in Spain. This scenario gives France some breathing room, but they're still in the middle of guerrilla warfare and hemorrhaging.
The big effect here could be a diminishment of the huge force that helped hem in Nap a couple years later.
Meanwhile, by this point, France still has troubles in Spain. This scenario gives France some breathing room, but they're still in the middle of guerrilla warfare and hemorrhaging.
The big effect here could be a diminishment of the huge force that helped hem in Nap a couple years later.