Anglo-Portuguese Army facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anglo-Portuguese Army Exército Anglo-Luso
British and Portuguese regiments, side by side, at the Second Battle of Porto.
Active	22 April 1809
Country	United Kingdom  Portugal
Allegiance	George III of the United Kingdom John VI of Portugal
Size	53,000 British 3,000 Hanoverians of the KGL 35,000 Portuguese Regulars
Garrison/HQ	Lisbon, Portugal
Engagements	Battle of Roliça Battle of Vimeiro Second Battle of Porto Battle of Grijó Battle of the Côa Battle of Bussaco Battle of Pombal Battle of Redinha Battle of Campo Maior Battle of Sabugal Blockade of Almeida Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro Battle of Albuera Battle of Arroyo dos Molinos Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo (1812) Siege of Badajoz (1812) Battle of Almaraz Battle of Salamanca Battle of Majadahonda Siege of Burgos Battle of Vitoria Siege of San Sebastián Battle of Roncesvalles (1813) Battle of the Pyrenees Battle of Sorauren Battle of the Bidassoa (1813) Battle of Nivelle Battle of Nive Battle of Garris Battle of Orthez Battle of Toulouse (1814) Battle of Bayonne
Disbanded	1814
Commanders
Commander-in-chief	Arthur Wellesley
Notable commanders	Brent Spencer, Carlos Frederico Lecor, Luís do Rego Barreto, Henry Clinton, James Leith, John Hope, Lowry Cole, Robert Craufurd, Rowland Hill, Thomas Picton, William Beresford

The Anglo-Portuguese Army was a combined army made up of soldiers from Great Britain and Portugal. They fought together in the Peninsular War (1807-1814). This war was part of the larger Napoleonic Wars in Europe.

The army was led by a famous British general, Arthur Wellesley. He later became known as the Duke of Wellington. In Portuguese, this army was called the Exército Anglo-Luso or Exército Anglo-Português.

How the Army Was Formed

The Anglo-Portuguese Army came together in 1809. It combined the British Army already in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) with the Portuguese Army.

The Portuguese Army needed a lot of help. A British general named William Beresford worked with Portugal's War Secretary, Miguel Pereira Forjaz. They completely rebuilt the Portuguese forces.

• Portuguese soldiers received new British equipment.
• They were trained to the same high standards as the British army.
• The army was reorganized from top to bottom.
• Officers who were not good at their jobs were removed.
• New, promising leaders were promoted to take their places.

Wellington Takes Command

On April 22, 1809, Arthur Wellesley became the main commander of the British Army in the Peninsula. He replaced General Cradock. The British government felt Cradock was too negative about the war.

At the same time, the Portuguese government also made Wellesley their Commander-in-Chief. This meant he was in charge of both armies. He then brought them together to fight as one strong force.

How the Army Was Organized

The Anglo-Portuguese Army was divided into groups called divisions. Most of these divisions were mixed. They had both British and Portuguese soldiers working side-by-side.

Usually, a division had two British brigades and one Portuguese brigade. An elite group called the Light Division was even more mixed. Its brigades included two British light infantry battalions and one Portuguese Caçadores (light infantry) battalion. This mix helped the armies work very well together.

See Also

• Army of Spain (Peninsular War)
• Lines of Torres Vedras
• King's German Legion
• Anglo-Portuguese Alliance