Western Civilization II / Unit 8 WC2 0715 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Spanish Ulcer, 1808: Guerrilla War
Captions available
The idea
In eighteen-oh-eight he invaded Iberia and put his brother Joseph on Spain's throne. Insurrection followed, Wellington landed, and the guerrilla, the little war that gave the word its name, cost France almost two hundred thousand dead over seven years by the anchor's count.
In practice
The witness: Murat's one hundred twenty thousand; six years.
Where people slip
Cities held, countryside lost, massacres recruiting for the enemy.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it