War of the Oranges
Encyclopedia
The War of the Oranges was a brief conflict in 1801 in which Spanish
forces, instigated by the government of France
, and ultimately supported by the French military, invaded Portugal
. It was a precursor to the Peninsular War
s, resulting in the Treaty of Badajoz
, the loss of Portuguese territory, in particular Olivenza
, as well as ultimately setting the stage for the complete invasion of the Iberian Peninsula
by French forces.
In 1800, First Consul Bonaparte
and his ally, the Spanish minister Manuel de Godoy
, ultimatively demanded Portugal, a British ally since the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373
, to enter into an alliance with France in the war against Britain and to cede to France the major part of its national territory.
Portugal refused, and in April 1801, French troops arrived in Portugal. On May 20, they were bolstered by Spanish troops under the command of Manuel de Godoy. In a battle that was disastrous for Portugal, Godoy took the Portuguese town of Olivença (Olivenza in Spanish), near the Spanish frontier. Following his victory, Godoy picked orange
s at nearby Elvas and sent them to the Queen of Spain with the message that he would proceed to Lisbon
. Thus, the conflict became known as the War of the Oranges.
On June 6, 1801, after Olivença, Portugal agreed to the tenets of the Treaty of Badajoz
. On September 29, 1801, Portugal agreed to both maintaining the tenets of the Treaty of Badajoz and the alterations made to it, which were all embodied within the Treaty of Madrid
.
After the Battle of Trafalgar
in 1805, in which the Franco-Spanish fleet lost to Britain, the government of Portugal restored relations with its old ally. This led to the Peninsular War
, in which France declared the Peace of Badajoz treaty cancelled, again marching on Portugal from 1807 to 1810.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
forces, instigated by the government of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and ultimately supported by the French military, invaded Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. It was a precursor to the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
s, resulting in the Treaty of Badajoz
Treaty of Badajoz (1801)
The Treaty of Badajoz was signed in Badajoz on 6 June 1801 between John VI of Portugal and representatives from the Spanish Empire. Based on the terms of the accord, Portugal agreed to cede Olivenza . Moreover, Portugal was required to close all ports to the British...
, the loss of Portuguese territory, in particular Olivenza
Olivenza
Olivenza or Olivença is a town in the autonomous community of Extremadura, situated on a disputed section of the border between Portugal and Spain...
, as well as ultimately setting the stage for the complete invasion of the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
by French forces.
In 1800, First Consul Bonaparte
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
and his ally, the Spanish minister Manuel de Godoy
Manuel de Godoy
Don Manuel Francisco Domingo de Godoy y Álvarez de Faria, de los Ríos y Sánchez-Zarzosa, also Manuel de Godoy y Álvarez de Faria de los Ríos Sánchez Zarzosa , was Prime Minister of Spain from 1792 to 1797 and from 1801 to 1808...
, ultimatively demanded Portugal, a British ally since the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373
Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373
The Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 was signed between King Edward III of England and King Ferdinand and Queen Eleanor of Portugal. It established a treaty of "perpetual friendships, unions [and] alliances" between the two seafaring nations...
, to enter into an alliance with France in the war against Britain and to cede to France the major part of its national territory.
Portugal refused, and in April 1801, French troops arrived in Portugal. On May 20, they were bolstered by Spanish troops under the command of Manuel de Godoy. In a battle that was disastrous for Portugal, Godoy took the Portuguese town of Olivença (Olivenza in Spanish), near the Spanish frontier. Following his victory, Godoy picked orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
s at nearby Elvas and sent them to the Queen of Spain with the message that he would proceed to Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
. Thus, the conflict became known as the War of the Oranges.
On June 6, 1801, after Olivença, Portugal agreed to the tenets of the Treaty of Badajoz
Treaty of Badajoz (1801)
The Treaty of Badajoz was signed in Badajoz on 6 June 1801 between John VI of Portugal and representatives from the Spanish Empire. Based on the terms of the accord, Portugal agreed to cede Olivenza . Moreover, Portugal was required to close all ports to the British...
. On September 29, 1801, Portugal agreed to both maintaining the tenets of the Treaty of Badajoz and the alterations made to it, which were all embodied within the Treaty of Madrid
Treaty of Madrid (1801)
The Treaty of Madrid was signed in Madrid on September 29, 1801 between John VI of Portugal and representatives from the French Republic. Based on the terms of the accord, Portugal was obligated to maintain the tenets of the Treaty of Badajoz. However, additions were made to the Treaty of Badajoz...
.
After the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
in 1805, in which the Franco-Spanish fleet lost to Britain, the government of Portugal restored relations with its old ally. This led to the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
, in which France declared the Peace of Badajoz treaty cancelled, again marching on Portugal from 1807 to 1810.
See also
- History of Portugal (1777–1834)History of Portugal (1777–1834)The history of Portugal from the beginning of Queen Maria I's reign in 1777, to the end of the Liberal Wars in 1834, spans a complex historic period in which several important political and military events led to the end of the absolutist regime and to the installation of a constitutional monarchy...
- Kingdom of Northern LusitaniaKingdom of Northern LusitaniaThe Kingdom of Northern Lusitania was a kingdom proposed by Napoleon in 1807 for the Monarch of Etruria, Charles II of Parma, located in the North of Portugal....
- Timeline of Portuguese historyTimeline of Portuguese historyThis is a historical timeline of Portugal.*Timeline of Iberian prehistory*Pre-Roman Iberia *Roman Lusitania and Gallaecia *Germanic Kingdoms...
- Fourth Dynasty: Bragança (17th to 20th century)Timeline of Portuguese history (Fourth Dynasty)-17th Century:*1640, December 1: a small group of conspirators storms the Palace in Lisbon and deposes the Spanish Governor, the Duchess of Mantua. The Duke of Bragança, head of the senior family of the Portuguese nobility , accepts the throne as Dom João IV of Portugal, despite deep personal...
- Fourth Dynasty: Bragança (17th to 20th century)