The Peninsular War was a struggle for control of Portugal and Spain, fought in 1808–1814. The intended French occupation of both countries was ultimately unsuccessful, in part because of the aid in manpower and weaponry from the United Kingdom but largely because of the determined resistance put up by the Spanish people.

France in 1806 had implemented the Continental System, an economic blockade of the United Kingdom and its allies. Portugal refused to be bound by such a system, and the Royal Navy ruled the waves in and around Portugal at the time, so France couldn't do much about that. As the trade war escalated, French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte decided to send troops to Portugal, in order to force that country to comply with the blockade. During the last few months of 1807 and the first few months of 1808, more than 100,000 French troops marched into Spain, on their way to Portugal. France could spare these troops at this time because the War of the Fourth Coalition had ended in July 1807 and France was, technically, only at war with the U.K. still.

The occupation began on Oct. 12, 1807, with 28,000 French troops under Jean-Andoche Junot marching from France into Spain. Bonaparte and Spain's King Charles IV later that month signed the Treaty of Fontainebleau, by which the two monarchs agreed to share in an invasion of Portugal, with Spain adding 25,500 troops, and then divide its territory between them. The invasion began on Nov. 19, and the Portuguese royal family fled to Brazil, transferring the seat of government there. Junot occupied Lisbon on December 1.

Spain had been an ally of France for many years. The two countries had recently collaborated on a plan to break the U.K. naval blockade in 1805. However, at this point in time, the Spanish king was involved in a major quarrel with the heir apparent, his oldest son, Ferdinand. The quarrel had become quite public and had divided much of the country, with both men having support from various regions.

Another large force from France marched into northern Spain in February 1808 and occupied the regions of Catalonia and Navarre, including the cities of Barcelona and Pamplona. Bonaparte named Marshal Joachim Murat commander of all French troops in Spain. He entered Madrid at the head of a large army on March 23. Both Charles IV and Ferdinand pressed their case to Bonaparte, who was clearly the power behind the Spanish throne at this point, and the French emperor summoned the royal father and son to Bayonne, in France, to discuss. Bonaparte, at a meeting on May 5, forced Charles IV to abdicate and then forced both king and king-in-waiting to step aside and claimed the throne for himself. He promptly then made his brother, Joseph, King of Spain. (He had been King of Naples). A large-scale uprising ensued.

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