History of the war in the Peninsula and in the south of France from the year 1807 to the year 1814, vol. 2

The volume opens with a clear picture of how the war on the Iberian Peninsula reverberated in London, sparking heated parliamentary debates and a tenuous treaty with Spain. It then follows Napoleon’s ceremonial entry into Valladolid and the appointment of his brother Joseph as lieutenant in Madrid, setting the stage for the first major French deployments. Early movements bring French forces to the bridge of Almaraz, the occupation of Toledo, and the initial clashes that test the resolve of Spanish commanders such as Infantado and Cuesta.

Detailed accounts of the first sieges‑and‑assaults bring the reader into the gritty realities of Aragon and Catalonia, from the confused defense of Zaragoza to the fierce fighting around the convents and university that scar the city. The narration tracks the rise of French corps under Mortier and Duhesme, the strategic importance of bridges on the Tagus and Ebro, and the desperate attempts of Spanish leaders to rally fragmented troops. Throughout, the work balances political intrigue with vivid battlefield description, giving listeners a grounded sense of the early phase of the Peninsular War.