Napoleon and Spain

Napoleon had a very poor opinion of Spain. It King and his son were constantly bickering. The Emperor of the French had decided that Portugal needed to be invaded as a means to enforce the economic blockade of Britain. He had however come to the conclusion that he would not occupy Spain. It would be too great a mess and he needed to be able to move quickly should the Austrians and Russians attempt anything.
Despite protest from Spain he managed to get an army through Spain to invade Portugal with Spanish assistance. Reports from the Emperor's intelligence service clearly showed that the Spanish Army was going to need a lot of training and weapons to turn it into an effective weapon.
The invasion went forward and luck seemed to be on the side of the Franco-Spanish Alliance. The Portuguese government failed to call up the militia to help defend the country and delayed asking for help from Britain. Thus the British Army arrived too late to be effective in the defense of the country.
The British -allied army was unable to defeat the larger French-Spanish forces. Portugal's Royal family fled to it South American colony.
The Franco-Spanish Alliance then divided Portugal. The French created a puppet kingdom from their part.

Portugal would not dilly dally during this war

Gurroruo said:

Portugal would not dilly dally during this war

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Well they do cause "reasons". Have you never read a Chris N timeline before?

Plausibility isn't his strong suit. I would punch out now if you are offended easily.

Let me restart this time line . The idea for it came from something that I came across . Napoleon had been trying to use his blockade of trade with Britain in an attempt to get the British to agree to a settlement. He was well aware that Spain desired to once again control the entire Iberian Peninsular. With that in mind he was sure that he could convince Spain's King to allow him to send an army through Spain to join with Spanish forces in the conquest of Portugal.
He had toyed with the idea of also taking control of Spain after seeing what fools the King and the crown prince were but had rejected the idea. Something just told him that Spain might just be a bottomless pit that could absorb too much of France's Army. Thus he was content to make a deal which would see the division of Portugal between Spain and a French controlled puppet state. Napoleon's agents clearly told him that the Spanish Army would need a lot of work and aid to make it an effective fighting force.
The French did everything that they could to make sure that Portugal's intelligence service had no idea that an invasion was coming. The result of all of the misinformation was that there was a delay in calling out the Portuguese
Militia. The government finally did call it out but they had not the time to get all of the needed fortifications. The regular army would do all that it could to delay the invaders until the fortifications and help from Britain could arrive.

The British intelligence service had managed to find out some facts about the planned invasion, at least the Spanish parts of it. It would appear that the Spanish government was leaking information at an alarming rate. Napoleon authorized steps to be taken to end the leaking of information. Still even as the French were moving close to the start off points British troops were already on the way to aid their ally Portugal.

chris N said:

There is an assumption by the government in Lisbon that the threat may not be real and to call out the Militia would be expensive. Thus there is a delay in getting thing prepared for the defense of the nation. I never said that the Portuguese Army would not fight to defend the nation. The assumption is that because of a lack of urgency things do not get done in time. The fortification that were built in OTL are not built or are incomplete.
This will not be a cakewalk but the failure to call up and prepare will give the Franco-Spanish forces an advantage.

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I am knowledgable of the Napoleonic war.

The fortifications were not built yes, but that doesn't mean anything in this discussion

The discussion is that the Portuguese would call up the militia.

Why would Portigal not see it as a real threat when they have every reason to believe it is

The Government in Lisbon had immediately called up all of the Militia as the threat was now made clear to everyone. Many were wondering why there had not been a call up much sooner of everyone rather than a limited call up. Partly it was the fact that the government did not believe that this was more than one of the typical threats from Spain.
The result was only 25% of those that could be called up were. Still as soon as troops near the border saw the French were moving close a cry was heard for a total call up of all fighting men..
Portugal's army would be joined by all of the Militia and the British Ambassador notified them that British forces would arrive shortly to join in the defense of Portugal.

Spanish Army

Striking misjudgment of Napoleon ...
The Spanish army would be the first, so far, to beat a Napoleonic army in field battle (Bailen, 1808) .The Spanish army was capable of something that no other continental European army had been able to do before. Destroying the myth of the invincibility of the Napoleonic armies.

Napoleon watch for reports of how the invasion of Portugal was going. The Franco-Spanish Army should have the advantage. Napoleon was convinced that his decision not to invade Spain had now been the right one. Somehow he would deal with the bickering Spanish royals.
There was always the problem that the Austrians or the Russians might be stirred into action. This way the Grande Army would be prepared to fight France's man enemy.
The question in Napoleons mind was could hiss army overwhelm the forces of Portugal before the damn English arrived to help. Report had shown progress but the Portuguese Militia was now responding to the call to arms and it was attempting to buy time for the defenses of Lisbon to be complete and help to arrive.
The Portuguese Army used every thing they could to delay the invaders. They had the advantage of terrain as well as the knowledge that they were fighting for their homes.

Unfortunately for the Army of Portugal corruption had weaken its ability to fight. Money was pocketed by corrupt officers and officials and some of the soldiers existed only on paper. In addition the government of 1807 Portugal had been cowed by Napoleon with the result that the Franc-Spanish Army had gained an advantage. The peole however were determined to fight.
Junot had been charged with the task of invading Portugal. He had perhaps 28,000 troops. All of them veterans of fighting. He was joined by members of the Royal Spanish Army. The Spanish troops had seen some fighting in the war and they were determined to deliver Glory to Spain.
In OTL the 1807 invasion of Portugal was an easy victory due to the lack of will of the government of Portugal to fight and the corruption within the army, which left it incapable to fighting, In fact it wasn't until the following year with the aid of British troops that the country was liberated. The Emperor compounded that problem by invading Spain. He will not do that in this time line. Instead France and Spain will remain allies.
But the question remains will the Franco-Spanish forces achieve what they did in our timeline and if so can they hold the country.

I don't quite understand the issue. OTL, Portugal was quickly overrun and defeated. Portugal completely mismanaged the military situation and were completely smashed and subjugated. The what if in this case is WI portugal actually attempted to defend itself instead of quivering in fear.

As for Britain, they completely abandoned their ally until Spain showed that they were going to stand up to France. This after forcing Portugal into this untenable situation by threatening to cut them off from Brazil if they gave in to French demands. Then, on top of this, Britain extorted concessions from Portugal in Brazil to allow them to flee Lisbon and head to Brazil.

IMO, France always intended the Portuguese invasion as the first part of the Spanish invasion. It was not a case of, oh hey, Spain is vulnerable, as long as we're here, let's take it over. It was one continuous plan. But, WI it weren't? WI the only goal was Portugal? First off, Portugal is toast. Britain isn't coming to the rescue. If it gets divvied up as originally planned, Spain gets a boost from two actions. they gain territory. More importantly, Godoy gets his kingdom, and Spain gets rid of a hated gov't official. This robs Ferdinand of much of his ammo, since his big schtick is to be anti Godoy. French forces cause frictions, but without actually invading, Spain remains intact, although under France's thumb. Until Nap is defeated elsewhere, or does something stupid (like trying to install a brother on the throne of Spain), the situation is that Portugal itself is no more (the empire is now Brazil and the colonies/outposts answer to Rio), Spain is a nominal ally of France, and there is no opening for Britain to send forces to the peninsula. Instead, Wellington and the troops he's been training continue on to the original destination of Venezuela, where it's anyone's guess if he has success. Who knows, he might end up like LeClerc - done in by nature, not a foe.

It appeared that the government in Lisbon was beside itself. Corruption and defeatism seemed to control its actions. While the military was willing to fight the invaders it was the Franco-Spanish forces that had the advantage. The invaders were organized, well supplied and had clear goals and were striking even as the Military of Portugal was attempting to delay the invaders.
While Britain was promising help there was some doubt as to whether that help would come. The British Military was already sending forces to strike at Spain's Latin American Colonies. Some argued that Portugal would be a waste of time and effort.
Napoleon wanted a victory in Portugal to prove a point to the British. But he had already come to the conclusion that taking over Spain might be a headache that he didn't need. His agents were always looking for any sign that the other major players in Europe had been talked into going war against him.
Despite having scored victories in 1805 the Austrians were always a question mark.

The Franco-Spanish Invasion force was pressing the attack and moving toward the capital of Lisbon. Despite a government that seemed unable to make a decision and corruption which had robbed it of troops so that some officers could line their pockets Portugal's army was giving a good account of itself. While some troops fled the majority was standing and fighting and only falling back when threaten with encirclement. Still everyone was saying when will the English come.
London appeared to be arguing as to whether it was realistic to send troops to a country that may have already fallen before they arrived.
Still others pointed out that Portugal was a British ally and one had to do something.

As a result of inaction by the government of Portugal the French-Spanish Invasion force was able to achieve its goal. Lisbon fell to the French. The invaders did suffer loses to the fierce determination of the Portuguese military to defend the nation. The Portuguese militia
refused orders to surrender and instead returned home, waiting for the chance to free themselves from the occupation of both the French and Spanish. There were still stories that were told of the last time that Spain had controlled Portugal..
In England General John Moore was proposing for an expedition to either Portugal or a raid on Spain.

Everyone seemed to be happy with the Conquest of Portugal. Spain had gained territory and France had installed a new puppet Kingdom.
However, the people of Portugal were not happy. They did not like a lot of foreigners controlling their country and slowly plans were being made to do something about it. The Army of Portugal had been drafted by the French Emperor and some of its troops were en-route to Germany.
The Portuguese Army had inflicted loses on the invades but it had to live with the thought that it had failed. British ship secretly plied the coast landing agents and arms.

Napoleon was satisfied that the Portugal Invasion had succeeded . For now French forces would remain in the part of Portugal controlled by France> The Emperor of the French hoped that the bickering within Spain would now come to an end. Something however bothered him. Why had not the British responded to the invasion. Britain was an old ally of Portugal and something did not seem right. For now he had time to concentrate on France and prepare for the next time that the British stirred the pot and got the Austrians, Russians of Prussians to go to war with him.

Word Arrived in Paris that the British had attacked Spain's colonies in South America. Napoleon was wondering what the results would be. But one thing he did know the anger at this action would keep Spain in France's camp.. The Emperor had dropped all thought of an invasion of Spain. Indeed things were much better between the two nations and he no longer had to hear complaints from the Crown Prince about this or that.
Some Portuguese troops that had arrived in Germany had made for the coast where the British Navy had picked them up. Indeed the English were up to something.

Napoleon's attention was now firmly to the East. He was well aware that the British were dangling Money in front of the Austrians and Russians to get them into the war.
Britain's attack on Spain's colony of Venezuela had gone horribly wrong. While the British Army was capable the Illnesses caused by the tropical climate resulted in the lose of far more troops than was killed in combat. One of those that was brought down by the illnesses was Sir Arthur Wesley, a man who might have become a very accomplished British General .
The British did not give up on their attacks on Spain's empire. Nest it decided to try Argentina.

Wrong ... look up the Battle of Maida, 1806

Xenophonte said:

Striking misjudgment of Napoleon ...
The Spanish army would be the first, so far, to beat a Napoleonic army in field battle (Bailen, 1808) .The Spanish army was capable of something that no other continental European army had been able to do before. Destroying the myth of the invincibility of the Napoleonic armies.

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an outnumbered British Army routed 6,000 french, inflicting 3000 casualties for 300 suffered

AlanJWhite said:

an outnumbered British Army routed 6,000 french, inflicting 3000 casualties for 300 suffered

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I think he meant to say "destroy" rather than defeat. At any rate, those numbers are a bit small to be called armies. More like divisions, and understrength ones at that.

Britain's clashes with Spain's colonial forces had not gone exactly as the planners in London had hoped. The attack in the northern part of South America had seen all too many troops lost to tropical illness.
The Attack in Argentina had also failed but at least the loses to illness were a fraction.
The British were pushing Austria and Russia to join in the war with France. As 1809 began the Emperor was clearly more concern at what was happening there than what was happening in the Iberian Peninsular . Yet it was there that Britain was considering getting involved in. The people of Portugal had not taken to either the French
or Spanish Kingdom made up from their land.
The British had retrained and rearmed the Portuguese troops that they had rescued. General Sir John Moore had been selected to lead the British effort.