Osprey Fortress 7 : The Lines of Torres Vedras 1809-1810

The Lines of Torres Vedras 1809-1810 were an enormous network of forts, batteries and redoubts built to the north of Lisbon whose construction had been started in November 1809. This 30-mile-wide line utilised the area's natural defences, damming rivers, scarping hillsides, blocking roads and establishing forts upon almost all of the hills. Following the battle of Bussaco on 27 September 1810 Wellington's heavily outnumbered troops began to withdraw towards Lisbon. By the evening of 9 October the British and Portuguese withdraw behind a line of defensive works. This book describes its design, creation and effectiveness in the face of French attacks. Text by Ian Fletcher with illustrations by Bill Younghusband.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• Design and Development
• Tour of the Sites
• The Principles of Defense
• The Living Sites
• Operational History
• Aftermath
• The Sites Today
• Bibliography and Further Reading
• Glossary
• Index