The landing of the British Army at Mondego Bay, 1808

Watercolour by Henri L'Eveque, 1808 (c), from series, 'Campaigns of the British Army in Portugal'.

A British force of around 14,000 men commanded by Sir Arthur Wellesley landed at Mondego Bay, about 100 miles north of Lisbon, during the first week of August 1808. On 17 August they fought their first battle of the Peninsular War (1808-1814) at Rolica, defeating a smaller French force under General Henri Delaborde that had been sent to slow Wellesley's advance towards Lisbon.