Fighting Napoleon: Guerrillas, Bandits and Adventurers in Spain, 1808-1814

Alongside the Spanish army in the campaign against Napoleon (1808-1814) was an assortment of freebooters, local peasants, and bandits who were organized into ad hoc regional private armies. These “guerrillas”—a term introduced to the English language during the Peninsular War—ambushed French convoys, attacked French encampments, and pounced upon, dodged, and fought French columns, often with extreme brutality. This book investigates for the first time the irregular Spanish forces and their ...