-
1 Buçaco, Battle of
(1810)An important battle in what is known as the Peninsular Wars in European history and the Wars of Independence in Portuguese history. In the third invasion by French forces under Emperor Napoleon, Marshal Masséna entered Portugal from Spain in August 1810. The allied forces under the Duke of Wellington were comprised of British and Portuguese troops. Masséna marched from Guarda, and moved to attack across the hills of Buçaco to Coimbra. Wellington's forces blocked the way to Coimbra and Lisbon and held an advantageous position. Against the advice of his council, Masséna decided to take the offensive. The battle of Buçaco commenced in the morning of 27 September 1810, and the French were defeated with considerable losses. The site of the battle in the woods and hills of Buçaco is marked by a commemorative obelisk, not far from the elegant Hotel-Palace of Buçaco, built originally for the last Braganza monarchs. -
2 Buçaco, Forest and Mountain of
On the boundary between Coimbra and Viseu districts, the Buçaco (former spelling: Bussaco or Busaco) forest and mountain (ca. 547 meters or 1,795 feet high), were the site of a famous Peninsular War victory of the Duke of Wellington over the French forces under Masséna on 27 September 1810. A monument remains to attest to this defeat of Napoleon. Not far from this spot is the Hotel-Palace of Buçaco, completed just before the monarchy was overthrown in the revolution of 5 October 1910. In Portuguese tradition, it is said that the royal family wished to build, in effect, the last royal palace of the dynasty, but could not afford the cost of such a construction and eventually converted the palace into a hotel open to the public. This magnificent palatial structure is now run as a hotel and combines various architectural styles, from Edwardian dining rooms and a billiards room to neo-Gothic, Arabic, and neo-Manueline rococo. Off the beaten track in the lovely Buçaco forest area, the Hotel-Palace remains a recent historic monument, and it is said that before it was completed, the last reigning Braganza, King Manuel II (1908-10), on more than one occasion met his French paramour there.Historical dictionary of Portugal > Buçaco, Forest and Mountain of
-
3 Wellington, Duke of
(Arthur Wellesley)(1769-1852)The British general who helped liberate Portugal from French occupation under Napoleon's armies (1808-11), turned back three French invasions, and enabled Portugal to reassert its independence as a nation-state. Born in Ireland, Arthur Wellesley became the most talented and honored soldier of several generations during the first half of the 19th century. He attended Great Britain's famed public school, Eton, and entered the British army and first served in the Low Countries in the 1790s and then in campaigns in British India and the 1807 Copenhagen expedition.When the British government decided to send an expedition to oppose Napoleon's occupation of Portugal, Wellesley was appointed commander of the force, which landed at the mouth of the Mondego River on 1 August 1808. For the next three years, the famous lieutenant general led Anglo-Portuguese forces against the three French invasions and, by 1811, had defeated the French. Wellington's forces proceeded across the frontier into Spain where, for the next two years, the allied forces fought victoriously against the French. Wellington received a number of honors, titles, and decorations from Portugal for his heroic efforts; after the final expulsion of French forces under Masséna, in 1810, Portugal's government granted Wellington—among other honors—the title of viscount of Vimieiro and the medal the Grand Cross of the Tower and the Sword (Torre e Espada). -
4 Great Britain
(England before 1707)Next to Spain, the country with which Portugal has had the closest diplomatic, political, and economic relations into contemporary times and during much of its history as a nation. Today, the two countries retain the formal bonds of the world's oldest diplomatic alliance. Whatever the diplomatic ups and downs of the alliance, Britain and Portugal increasingly linked their economies, starting with the Methuen Treaty ( 1703) in the early 18th century. "English woolens for Portuguese wines" was the essence of this trade arrangement, but many other products were traded between these two peoples with quite different religious and cultural features. Among economic links, now traditional, are those in banking and finance, manufacturing, agriculture, and trade.Portugal joined Britain in several international economic organizations well before Portugal entered the European Economic Community (EEC), the predecessor of the European Union (EU), in 1986, among these the European Free Trade Association (in 1959), the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Tourism, too, has long been a key connection. Ever since the 1700s, privileged tourists have enjoyed the sun and citrus fruits of Portugal and Madeira for their health. Another significant link is that Britons comprise one of the largest foreign communities in Portugal. Tourism and foreign communities have increased considerably since the early 1960s, when cheap airfares began. Among EU members, Britain remains one of Portugal's largest foreign investors.
См. также в других словарях:
Battle of Bussaco — Infobox Military Conflict caption= conflict=Battle of Bussaco partof=Peninsular War date=September 27, 1810 place=Bussaco, near Luso, Portugal result=Anglo Portuguese victory combatant1=flagicon|United Kingdom Britain flagicon|Portugal|1707… … Wikipedia
Bataille de Buçaco — 40°20′40″N 8°20′15″O / 40.34444, 8.3375 … Wikipédia en Français
Schlacht von Buçaco — Teil von: Verteidigung Portugals Berge von Buçaco … Deutsch Wikipedia
Bataille de Fuentes de Oñoro — Informations générales Date 3 5 mai 1811 Lieu Fuentes de Oñoro, Espagne Issue Victoire des Alliés … Wikipédia en Français
Guerre d'indépendance espagnole — Cet article traite de la guerre de 1808 1814, appelée également Guerre d’Espagne. Pour la guerre d’Espagne de 1936 1939, voir l’article Guerre d Espagne Invasion de l Espagne … Wikipédia en Français
Lines of Torres Vedras — The Lines of Torres Vedras were lines of forts built in secrecy to defend Lisbon during the Peninsular War. Named after the nearby town of Torres Vedras, they were ordered by Arthur Wellesley, Viscount Wellington, constructed by Portuguese… … Wikipedia
Siège d'Almeida — Informations générales Date 25 juillet 27 août 1810 Lieu Almeida ( … Wikipédia en Français
List of battles (alphabetical) — Alphabetical list of historical battles (see also Military history, List of battles): NOTE: Where a year has been used to disambiguate battles it is the year when the battle started. In some cases these may still have gone on for several years.… … Wikipedia
List of battles (geographic) — This list of battles is organized geographically, by country in its present territory. For other lists of battles, see List of battles. Angola* Battle of Mbwila 1665 * Battle of Quifangondo 1975 * Battle of Cassinga 1978 * Battle of Cuito… … Wikipedia
List of battles 1801–1900 — List of battles: before 601 601 1400 1401 1800 1801 1900 1901 2000 2001 current See also: Battles of the American Civil War 19th century 1801 to 1825* 1801 ** Battle of Aboukir March 20 British Turkish army under Sir Ralph Abernathy defeats… … Wikipedia
Palace Hotel of Bussaco — The Palace Hotel of Bussaco (Portuguese: Palácio Hotel do Buçaco ), is a luxury hotel located in the mountain range of Serra do Bussaco, in the municipality of Mealhada, in central Portugal.HistoryThe area around the Buçaco Palace was part of a… … Wikipedia
