Orange War

As neighboring countries and, in many respects, brothers, Portugal and Spain have also had their pluses and minuses, which they have settled throughout history through various confrontations.

One of these, little known for having been masked by the Napoleonic Wars, is the so-called "War of the Oranges."

In the framework of the French blockade of Great Britain, Portugal - a traditional ally of the British - se refused to cut off commercial relations with the island, despite having made some small concession to Napoleon.

The future French emperor had an alliance with Spain, and used it to pressure Portugal, agreeing with the valid Spanish king, Manuel Godoy, the invasion of the country Portuguese by Spanish troops if Portugal did not comply with the blockade of England.

The military campaign broke out on May 20, 1801, and it was a military walk from the Spanish point of view thanks to the fact that the Portuguese did not oppose endurance.

The Hispanic columns progressed in the interior of the country, towards Lisbon, taking control of some cities on their route.

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All these cities would later be returned to Portugal with the exception de, Olivenza, a square located in the border common, and that it was already reason dispute between both countries.

Olivenza is, to this day, still a problem for relations between Spain and Portugal, since although in the Congress of Vienna of 1815 the return of this city and its territory to Portugal, said resolution was never complied with by Spain. However, you always tiptoe over that issue.

All the cities captured by the Spanish are in the Portuguese Extremadura.

On June 6, 1801, the peace agreement was signed, by which Portugal limited its relations with Great Britain, and accepted an occupying force.

The reason for the rapid Portuguese surrender was the disparity of forces at stake; only the Spanish troops prepared to invade the country already doubled the number of defenders Portuguese, and that without counting the French reinforcements that were waiting, and that did not get to enter into combat Due to the speed with which the dispute was resolved.

The name "War of the oranges" is given by the bouquet of oranges that Godoy sent to the queen Spanish Maria Luisa (with whom it is rumored that she had an affair) as a symbol of the submission of Portugal.

In August 1801, the war also had a ramification in the American colonies of both countries, without major importance or impact on the overall result of the confrontation in Europe.

Photo: Fotolia - stas111