Napoleonic Portuguese Line Infantry

Description

The Portuguese have never been fond of their Spanish neighbours. This wasdoubly so when in 1807 Napoleon sent a large French and Spanish army across theborder to crush Portugal and take its fleet to continue their war against thedetested British. Great Britain and Portugal, however, had been old allies forcountless years, and before long a largely untried British general calledWellesley was sent from London to eject the French from Portuguese soil.

The Portuguese troops were brave but unskilled, and outnumbered in the earlydays of the conflict. Reforms of the Portuguese army taken by Sir Lt.GeneralWilliam Beresford changed that, adopting British drill and tactics. The changestransformed the Portuguese into an effective fighting force.

The allied army was carefully organised with units of both nations mixed intodivisions giving, it a distinctive character and indeed spurring on each nationto outperform the other.

The line infantry in their blue coats, and their light troops in brown,performed very well and soon had Marshall Soult back over the Pyrenees with theallied army in hot pursuit.

Wellington, as Wellesley famously became, applauded his Portuguese troopscalling them his ‘fighting cocks’, praise indeed from a man who knew a goodsoldier when he saw one. Less magnanimous was the popular name British soldiersused – ‘pork and beans’ – with good-humoured respect.

Our plastic Portuguese soldiers are supplied with the option of the earlyBarretina shako used between 1806 and 1810, or the later Stovepipe-styleversion which entered service in 1810.

Contains:

• 20 plastic easy-build Portuguese Line Infantry.
• 4 metal command miniatures: officer, drummer and two ensigns with wireflagpoles and banner tops.
• 2-page background guide including ten full-colour flags

This product is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue and paints notincluded.

Delivery

 

Delivery Times
Orders ship from Mighty Ape, based in Auckland, New Zealand.
We use Courier Post for most orders, which allows for fast and reliable delivery to destinations across their comprehensive domestic network. Delivery times take vary depending on a product's stock status and the intended delivery address.