The French emperor who aroused the hatred of his country in 1808 for underestimating Spain

In 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte, at the peak of his glory and convinced of his invincibility, committed one of the most significant errors of his military career by underestimating the Spanish resistance. What seemed to be a simple conquest turned into a protracted and bloody conflict that not only caused casualties, but also awakened a deep discontent among his own soldiers and officers, and marked the beginning of the decline of his empire.

Napoleon was confident that the invasion of Spain would be quick and easy. In 1807as cited by ABC, proudly proclaimed: “It is a child’s gamethose people don’t know what a French army is; believe me, it will be quick.” Despite warnings from his generals about the resistance they might encounter, the emperor crossed the Pyrenees certain that victory was assured.

Under the pretext of conquering Portugal, he managed to trick the Spanish Prime Minister Manuel Godoy into signing the Treaty of Fontainebleauallowing his troops to cross Spain. However, once French troops crossed the Pyrenees, promises to respect Spanish sovereignty quickly faded. City after city was occupied, and the population began to resist.

The entrance to Madrid

In March 1808, General Joaquin Murat, Napoleon’s brother-in-law, entered Madrid con 25,000 soldiers, settling in Chamartín. The massive presence of French troops in the Spanish capital generated a growing unrest among the people of Madrid, who did not take long to defend themselves.

He May 2, 1808the spark of the popular uprising lit in Madrid. The population, mostly armed with improvised tools, He faced the powerful French army in what would be the beginning of the Spanish War of Independence. Benito Pérez Galdós He described that day as a moment when the entire city became a scene of resistance, with cries of “guns, guns, guns!” echoing through the streets. The Spanish Government called up 30,000 citizens, mostly militiamen. no military experience.

The Spanish resistance, led by figures such as General Castaños and Empecinadosurprised the French. Despite the brutal reprisals, the Spanish people continued to fight with a perseverance that baffled the Napoleonic troops. The guerrillas constantly attacked the French, and it took two months for the messages to reach the French Emperor so it was practically impossible to conduct war from Paris.

A decisive mistake and massive discontent

The consequences of this underestimation were devastating. According to the ABC It was estimated that the french casualties rose to about 110.000 and others 60,000 soldiers of allied troops also fell in combat. The conflict left deep scars on French soldiers, many of whom wrote phrases such as “Spain, fortune of the generals, tomb of the soldiers“, as a criticism of Napoleon’s decisions.

Discontent was not limited to the lower ranks. Several generals and high-ranking officers They began to question the emperor’s orders. Some, like General Maximilien Sébastien Foy, openly expressed their disappointment with the campaigncalling Napoleon a leader who had crossed the line between genius and madness.

The psychological impact of the war was profound. Many officers, such as Junot and Fournier-Sarlovèze, developed documented mental disordersa result of the brutality of the conflict and the relentless Spanish resistance. The atrocities committed by both sides left an open wound in the memories of the soldiers, who lived the war as a constant hell.

Acknowledge your failure

Finally, even Napoleon had to admit failure. In his memoirs written in exile on the island of Saint Helena, He admitted that the war in Spain had been a catastrophic mistake that destroyed his reputation in Europe. “The war in Spain destroyed my reputation in Europeentangled my difficulties and opened a school for English soldiers,” he wrote, acknowledging that he seriously underestimated the strength of Spain and the determination of its people.

The Spanish War of Independence, in addition to mark the beginning of the end For the Napoleonic Empire, it was also a lesson in the dangers of arrogance and underestimating an adversary. For Napoleon, what began as a seemingly simple campaign and “child’s play” it turned into a nightmare that stained his legacy and accelerated his downfall.