KEY HISTORIOGRAPHICAL QUESTIONS ON THE WARS - Dissertation Example

Running head: The peninsular war The peninsula war originated from a number of reasons which included Napoleon's wish to control large part of Europe. Napoleon was a leader of great estimate thought of Portugal as the easiest and convenient way to invade Spain. Furthermore, apart from smuggling and allowing unregistered goods into the territory, which was widespread, Portugal remained the only country that would still openly accept British imports. To prevent this, Napoleon planned to invade Portugal by first taking control of Spain and then controlling the whole of the Iberian Peninsula.

The bone of contention started from simple and short conflicts with the juntas that were in rule and it spread to other countries due to need for independence. This would involve countries like Brazil, Latin America countries-Haiti. The fuelling of independence in these countries started from a common point where Napoleon invaded Spain (Griffith 1999, pp 67-90). The Peninsular War began and extended period of instability in the world-wide Spanish Monarchy which lasted until 1823. Napoleon's removal of the Bourbon dynasty from the Spanish throne led to a political crisis.

Although the Spanish world almost uniformly rejected Napoleon's plan to give the crown to his brother Joseph, there was no enough reason or explanation to the lack of a king. Following traditional Spanish political theories on the dynamics nature of the monarchy. The peninsular provinces responded to the crisis by establishing juntas. The move, however, led to misunderstanding, since there was no central influence and most juntas did not recognize the big-headed claim of some juntas. It influenced positively and negatively, for instance, in some areas it encouraged democracy, economic growth and governments were formed and had accountability areas like Cuba were greatly influenced positively.

In other areas it came out as a growth while others it brought about tension, malicious administration that fuelled hatred among locals (Urban 1999, pp 67-103). Whereas Napoleon using the French army raged war towards the Spaniards they did not retaliate until the French captured their king .The word ‘guerrilla’ was first used to describe how the Spaniards were fighting the giant French meaning in small way. It is difficult to forget that Napoleon of course thought of the Spaniards as not armoured and little state that could be easily conqured.

When the French they met little resistance when they conquered the Spaniards the Spaniards were had a disorganized army and also were little in number. Hence the reason to embark on guerrilla warfare (Lovett 2001, pp 34-76). Part of the reasons why French wanted to invade and capture Spain through Portugal are among others was that French underestimated the strength of both countries in terms of militia and also numbers. It was in for a great shock because having Britain on board made the war become tough on the side of the French.

The Spaniards tactics although having resulting to fight in guerrilla warfare they engaged in scorch earth policy which included killing French soldiers and also burning food that they needed. All this are the reason as to why the French had to wage war in this particular time (Griffith 1999, pp 65-97). The dynamics of this war cannot be understood unless we critically look at the parties involved their strength. Their strength and weaknesses and the tactics that were employed. Different wars and feuds are fought differently regarding the way they were approached they differ in all ways and manners.

In the peninsular war we come across organized French troops while on the hand of the Spaniards we get a disorganized army which fights brutally though and later the British troops (Goya 1967, pp 56-98). It is in the same war that we find Napoleon refers to it as ‘the French cancer’ and for the Spaniards it comes to them as liberation. To Britain they come out as triumph in the war. Soldiers on all country’s or parties involved were lost .Lives of people and property lost but it did not boil down to the same consequences to the countries they differed a great deal as illustrated above.

The war had also varied impact on the social class the peasant were affected and their frustration regarding their harvests resulted to political squabble. Whereas the urbanites formed the junta (Fletcher 2003, pp 45-78). This says that it had different impacts on the different countries and hence the need to analyze the war in a broader perspective regarding countries involved, tactics employed, the terrain covered, the goals and objectives of the countries involved. For some of the countries it was purely for defence like Spain but British will have to say it was between battle of the dominant and loyalty.

No one can ever underestimate the power of any war in history we find significance in the wars that have happened like world war1 and world war 2, and in this case the peninsular war. To the parties that were involved (Esdaile 1988, pp 45-56). On the part of the Portugal it gave rise to a liberation politically, economically it lost during the war which subsequently led to opening of the lucrative Brazilian market to outsiders hence loosing profits. In Spain it somehow paved way to military interventions while it came to political conflicts and hence rise of dictatorship all glory and championship could have been given to the British army but in such wars military endowment and strength is not the only important aspect but also the number of causalities.

The Spaniards caused the French an estimate of 100 soldiers a dead therefore draining the French and hence the defeat. Inspired many German nationalists. The French bourgeoisie and the working class, army were left behind to make up the class of new officers clearing the ostracized council. On the part of the British army and people wellington left an unbeaten record during this war up until now the British army enjoys the glory (Esdaile 2004, pp 123-136). References Esdaile, Charles J, 2004, Fighting Napoleon.

New York: Yale University Press. Esdaile, Charles J, 1988, The Spanish Army in the Peninsular War. Manchester: Manchester University Press. Fletcher, Ian, 2003, Peninsular War; Aspects of the Struggle for the Iberian Peninsula. New York: Spellmount Publishers. Goya, Francisco, 1967, The Disasters of War. Chicago: Dover Publications. Griffith, Paddy, 1999, A History of the Peninsular War: Modern Studies of the War in Spain And Portugal. London: Prentice Hall. Lovett, Gabriel H, 2001, Napoleon and the Birth of Modern Spain New York: McGraw-Hill.

Urban, Mark, 1999, The Man who Broke Napoleon's Codes. London: Faber and Faber Ltd.