Convention of Sintra

In the Convention of Cintra on August 30, 1808, the withdrawal of the French occupation troops from Portugal was governed. The French were allowed to keep their prey, which they had plundered in Portugal, and were returned to British ships in their home.

Background

At the beginning of the Napoleonic wars in the Iberian Peninsula, a French army had occupied towards the end of 1807 in Portugal. This was defeated by British and Portuguese under Wellington at the Battle of Vimeiro on 21 August 1808. Wellington's superiors Sir Harry Burrard and Sir Hew Dalrymple negotiated it with the French commander Junot from the Convention of Cintra.

Follow

The French troops were soon after they had returned to their homes, reinstated on the Iberian Peninsula.

In Britain, the Convention of Cintra was seen as a missed opportunity to destroy a French army. That is why the British Generals Burrard, Dalrymple and Wellington were ordered back into the home where an investigation was taking place. Although they were acquitted there, but only Wellington, who had spoken out against the convention, then again given a field command.

• Napoleonic Wars
• Portuguese history
• Event 1808