12 August 1812
Wellington takes Madrid

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Madrid falls to the duke of Wellington, and the Peninsular War against the French enters a new phase. Until now, the British forces on the Iberian peninsula had been avoiding big set-piece battles with the French, preferring a guerrilla campaign of quick strikes followed by tactical retreats. But now, in allegiance with the Spanish 'peninsulars', who have been fighting against Napoleon's imposition of his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne since 1808, Wellington is pressing the French back to the east and north of Spain. Joseph retakes Madrid in November, but soon, with war in the rest of Europe forcing Napoleon to withdraw many of his best troops, the French will be driven out of Spain altogether. The war has drained Napoleon's resources and will prove to have played an important part in his eventual defeat.

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