Salamanca · 1812

The turning point of the Peninsular War in central Spain. After Masséna's failure before the Lines of Torres Vedras, Marmont led the Army of Portugal against Wellington, backed by the British expedition and Portuguese allies. Defeat on 22 July 1812 broke French rule north of the Tagus, forced King Joseph Bonaparte to abandon Madrid again, and helped set the stage for the Sixth Coalition in Europe.