Wellington’s Secret HQ: Why Britain Beat Napoleon

Today we’re in the tiny border village of Freineda - a place most visitors miss - but it mattered enormously during the Peninsular War. This is where Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, based his headquarters for two winters (1811–1812 and 1812–1813), positioned perfectly between Ciudad Rodrigo, Almeida, and the fighting around Fuentes de Oñoro and El Bodón.

From this modest village (barely 50 buildings) Wellington could ride fast to the front, keep a grip on his divisions, and do what he did best: micromanage the unglamorous details that win wars. The problem? Headquarters life here was cramped, miserable, and very short on comforts… and let’s just say there was no room for “social arrangements.”

We also dig into what really made Wellington so effective in the Peninsula:
✅ Reading the ground (Busaco, defensive slopes, using terrain as a weapon)
✅ Not just “defensive” — when he attacks, he attacks hard (Roliça, Vimeiro, Porto, Salamanca, Vitoria)
✅ The often-overlooked genius: logistics, intelligence, and politics
✅ Why sieges could become his weak spot (and why they cost so dearly)
✅ And yes… the eternal question: was Wellington a “ladies man”? (spoiler: oh yes)


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