Britain, Portugal and South America in the Napoleonic Wars: Alliances and Diplomacy in Economic Maritime Conflict

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In the maelstrom of Napoleonic Europe, Britain remained defiant, resisting French imperial ambitions. This Anglo-French rivalry was, essentially, a politico-economic conflict for pre-eminence fought on a global scale and it reached a zenith in 1806-1808 with France's apparent dominance of Continental Europe. Britain reacted swiftly and decisively to implement maritime-based strategies to limit French military and commercial gains in Europe, while protecting British overseas interests. The policy is particularly evident in relations with Britain's 'Ancient Ally': Portugal. That country and, by association her South American empire, became the front line in the battle between Napoleon's ambitions and British maritime security. Shedding new light on British war aims and maritime strategy, this is an essential work for scholars of the Napoleonic Wars and British political, diplomatic, economic and maritime/military history.

Reviews

'This book places the Anglo-Portuguese origins of the Peninsular War in the widest context. By integrating the need to secure trade routes, adapt strategy, bolster diplomacy and conduct effective military operations, Martin Robson provides a critical new interpretation of the conflict, one which emphasises the emergence of a new 'British' strategy in the period after 1806. His work stresses the expeditionary character of British strategy, and the use of maritime power to secure national interests. This book will be of great importance to historians of the Peninsular Conflict, Anglo-Portuguese relations and the development of British strategy.' - Andrew Lambert, Laughton Professor of Naval History, King's College London

Author Bio

Martin Robson is a Visiting Lecturer at King's College London, Defence Studies Department at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Defence Academy of the UK. He specialises in the military and maritime history of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He completed his PhD in the Department of War Studies, King's College London and is a former Caird Senior Research Fellow at the National Maritime Museum. He is the author of 'The Battle of Trafalgar', and co-author of 'Lord Beresford and British Intervention in Portugal'.