Due to the international tension created by recent events in the US people in North America – and elsewhere – seemed to have begun to search for new vacation locations outside the United States.
That’s why I was just mildly surprised when my dentist told me that he had sold his condo in Florida and was headed the following week for Portugal. “I hear the winters are warm there, food is cheap, and most people speak English.”
“Yes, there are many English-speaking people there, mainly Brits,” I replied.
“Brits?”
“Yeah, people from the UK. The Brits and the Portuguese have been friends for centuries. While you are there have a look at the Lines of Torres Vedras.”
“I will. But who painted them? Picasso, Dali…?”
Instead of laughing out loud I took the opportunity to tell him about an extraordinary system of fortifications built in secrecy by the British and the Portuguese during the Peninsular War (1807-1814).
The fortifications were designed to defend Portugal’s Capital City Lisbon against an eventual attack by Napoleon’s Army until reinforcements arrived by sea from Portugal’s British allies. The lines were conceived by Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington, who realized that the Portuguese were no way able to withstand alone repeated French invasions.
The fortifications consisted of three lines:
First line running from the Atlantic through Torres Vedras to the Tagus river 46 km,
Second line about 13 km to the rear,
Third line around the fortress of Lisbon itself,
The French Army could not breach through and was forced to retreat.
The Peninsular war was lost for Napoleon.
As a Brit I knew nothing about the lines. Will now investigate!!
Thank you for the reminder of the longevity of the British-Portuguese alliance. However, do not forget that the French troops occupied Lisbon in 1807 while the Emperor and his entourage fled to Brazil under the protection of an Anglo-Portuguese fleet… and so began to Empire of Brazil.
Fascinating — I knew nothing about this. Who told you? Actually I wasn’t even aware that Napoleon had attempted to take Portugal.
Cher Robert,
Chacun de vos commentaires est toujours source d’informations additionnelles et de grand intérêt pour les férus d’histoire. Après plusieurs mémorables visites au Portugal, dont aux magnifiques Açores, merci de me rappeler, avec précision, les 3 lignes de défense magistrales, élaborées par Le Duke of Wellington, ayant permis de dérouter le Grand conquérant Bonaparte. Cela dit, il faut aussi rappeler le rôle important des Britanniques dans la commercialisation internationale des délicieux Portos portugais. Maintenant, tristement, ce sont les réputés funiculaires de Lisbonne qu’il faut craindre… Cordialement, Linda Julien, avocate, 6/09/2025.
Many people are going to Portugal and certatn parts of Greece are still affordable…italy has become very expensive…especially Rome and Milan…..and many people are taking a break from trump’s America…🍹