As dawn broke over the dusty plains of Spain in the summer of 1808, Europe's most formidable military machine found itself mired in an unexpected quagmire. Napoleon Bonaparte, the brilliant tactician who had conquered much of continental Europe with stunning efficiency, had unwittingly stumbled into what would become one of the most protracted and devastating conflicts of his imperial ambitions. The Peninsular War had begun, a bitter six-year struggle that would drain French resources, inspire guerrilla warfare tactics still studied today, and ultimately contribute significantly to the downfall of the Napoleonic Empire.
What began as a seemingly straightforward campaign to control the Iberian Peninsula quickly transformed into what Napoleon himself would later describe as his "Spanish ulcer", a festering wound that relentlessly sapped the strength of his empire. The French Emperor, accustomed to decisive victories through massive set-piece battles, instead found himself facing an entirely different kind of war. Here, amid the scorched landscapes of Spain and Portugal, conventional military doctrine faltered against innovative resistance tactics.
The war embodied a remarkable coalition of unlikely allies. British professional soldiers fought alongside Portuguese regulars and Spanish guerrillas in a tenuous alliance united by a common enemy. The legendary British commander Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington, demonstrated remarkable strategic acumen, exploiting the defensive advantages of Portugal's rugged terrain while meticulously building a professional Iberian fighting force capable of standing against French veterans.
While battles elsewhere in Europe often involved hundreds of thousands of troops, the Peninsular War was characterized by smaller but no less significant engagements. When major battles did occur, they were ferocious, at Salamanca in 1812, nearly 100,000 soldiers clashed in a decisive confrontation that demonstrated Wellington's tactical brilliance.
What made this theater truly unique was the unprecedented participation of civilian populations in the war effort. Spanish civilians, outraged by French atrocities, developed guerrilla ("little war") tactics that would later inspire resistance movements worldwide. These irregular fighters appeared from nowhere to strike French supply lines and isolated units before melting back into the countryside, creating a constant state of terror among occupying forces.
The Peninsular War represented more than just another Napoleonic campaign, it became the testing ground for a new kind of warfare that blended conventional military operations with popular resistance, a deadly combination that would ultimately help topple an empire.
Historical Background: Napoleon's Spanish Nightmare
The roots of the Peninsular War lay in Napoleon's Continental System, his grand strategy to defeat Britain by cutting off its trade with Europe. When Portugal refused to comply with this economic blockade in 1807, French troops marched across Spain with Spanish permission to punish the Portuguese. What began as a straightforward military action soon transformed into a six-year quagmire that would drain the resources of Napoleon's empire.
The Unfolding Conflict (1808-1814)
The initial French invasion of Portugal in November 1807 seemed successful, with the Portuguese royal family fleeing to Brazil. However, the situation rapidly deteriorated when Napoleon's ambitions expanded to include Spain itself. In May 1808, popular uprisings erupted across Spain after Napoleon forced the abdication of the Spanish Bourbon monarchy and placed his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne. The infamous "Dos de Mayo" uprising in Madrid, brutally suppressed by French troops, ignited Spanish resistance and was immortalized in Francisco Goya's haunting paintings.
By August 1808, British forces under Sir Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) landed in Portugal and defeated the French at Vimeiro. This marked the beginning of Britain's sustained military commitment to the Iberian Peninsula. Over the next six years, the war would unfold in cycles of advance and retreat. French forces, despite their professional excellence, found themselves stretched thin across difficult terrain and facing constant harassment from irregular forces.
The French initially dominated much of Spain by 1809, forcing Wellington to retreat to the defensive lines of Torres Vedras near Lisbon. Napoleon's personal intervention with 200,000 reinforcements briefly turned the tide, but his attention was soon diverted by growing tensions with Russia. By 1812, as Napoleon launched his disastrous Russian campaign, Wellington began his methodical reconquest of the Peninsula, capturing the key fortress cities of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz before decisively defeating the French at Salamanca in July 1812.
The final phases saw Wellington's forces push into France itself by late 1813, with the conflict finally ending after Napoleon's first abdication in April 1814.
An Alliance of Necessity
The coalition opposing French dominance represented one of history's most challenging military partnerships. British professional forces provided the backbone of conventional military power, but they never exceeded 40,000 men in the theater, a tiny fraction of the approximately 300,000 French troops ultimately committed to Spain.
What made the alliance effective was Wellington's pragmatic leadership. He helped transform the Portuguese army into a disciplined fighting force, integrated into his command structure and often indistinguishable from British units in performance. The Spanish regular army, despite suffering catastrophic defeats early in the war, continued to tie down substantial French forces.
Perhaps most crucially, Spanish guerrillas, the word itself entered international military vocabulary from this conflict, waged relentless irregular warfare. These partisan fighters ambushed French couriers, attacked isolated garrisons, and severed supply lines. Their activities forced the French to commit tens of thousands of troops to escort duty and garrison service rather than field operations. Wellington acknowledged that while his armies could win battles, it was the Spanish people who made French occupation untenable.
Battles That Shaped the War
While numerous engagements occurred throughout the conflict, several stand out for their strategic importance. The Battle of Talavera (July 1809) demonstrated that British infantry could withstand French attacks but also revealed the challenges of allied cooperation. Busaco (September 1810) showcased Wellington's defensive prowess, while Fuentes de Oñoro (May 1811) proved his forces could fight effectively even when outnumbered.
Salamanca, fought on July 22, 1812, remains Wellington's masterpiece. With around 50,000 Anglo-Portuguese troops facing approximately 40,000 French under Marshal Marmont, Wellington exploited a French maneuvering error to launch a devastating flank attack. The resulting victory shattered French prestige and opened the way to Madrid.
The final major battle at Vitoria (June 1813) involved over 150,000 troops and resulted in the complete rout of French forces, with Joseph Bonaparte barely escaping capture and abandoning his royal baggage train.
The Character of Peninsula Warfare
Combat in Spain and Portugal differed dramatically from warfare elsewhere in Europe. The challenging topography, mountain ranges, river barriers, and arid plains, made supply extraordinarily difficult. The poor road network limited the size of armies that could operate effectively, while extremes of climate (from blistering summers to freezing winters) took a heavy toll on all combatants.
Siege warfare acquired particular importance due to the numerous fortress cities controlling key routes. The bloody sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, and San Sebastian became notorious for their ferocity both in the assaults and subsequent looting.
French forces, accustomed to living off the land in the fertile regions of central Europe, found Spain's harsh landscape unable to support large concentrations of troops. Combined with guerrilla attacks on supply convoys, this created a perpetual logistical crisis for French commanders.
Military Leadership and Innovation
The conflict produced commanders whose names still resonate in military history. Wellington developed his distinctive approach of careful preparation, defensive positioning on reverse slopes (hiding his forces from French artillery), and precise counterattacks. His methodical style contrasted sharply with Napoleon's preference for bold offensive maneuvers.
On the French side, marshals like Soult, Massena, and Suchet demonstrated remarkable resilience despite operating with diminishing resources and often contradictory orders from Paris. Spanish generals like Castaños (victor at Bailén) and guerrilla leaders like Juan Martín Díez ("El Empecinado") and Francisco Espoz y Mina exemplified Spanish determination.
The war accelerated military innovations, including the wider deployment of rifle-armed light infantry, particularly the British 95th Rifles and Portuguese Caçadores. These specialized troops could pick off French officers at unprecedented ranges and excelled in the broken terrain of the Peninsula. The effectiveness of guerrilla tactics also provided lessons that would influence irregular warfare for generations to come.
This bitter conflict, which cost hundreds of thousands of lives and devastated large portions of Spain and Portugal, ultimately demonstrated that even Napoleon's military genius had its limits when confronted with determined national resistance combined with conventional military power.
The Armies of the Peninsular War
The Peninsular War showcased some of the most diverse military forces of the Napoleonic era, each with distinctive uniforms, tactics, and combat capabilities. These armies, now meticulously recreated in WoFun's miniature collections, represented a fascinating cross-section of early 19th century military development.
The French Grande Armée and Its Allies
Napoleon's forces in Spain initially comprised veterans of his victorious campaigns in central Europe, though as the conflict dragged on, younger and less experienced troops were increasingly deployed. The French infantry was organized into regiments of ligne (line) and légère (light) infantry. Line infantry formed the backbone of French forces, trained to fight in both column and line formations. Light infantry specialized in skirmishing tactics, with the elite voltigeur companies often deployed ahead of the main formations.
French cavalry was particularly feared, organized into dragoons, hussars, and chasseurs à cheval (light cavalry), with cuirassiers (heavy cavalry) appearing in smaller numbers. The mounted dragoons were distinctive in being trained to fight both on horseback and dismounted as infantry, a versatility that proved valuable in the Spanish terrain.
French artillery, considered the finest in Europe, primarily used the versatile 6-pounder and 12-pounder guns, organized into foot and horse artillery batteries. The latter, with mounted gunners, provided rapid fire support for fast-moving operations.
The diversity of Napoleon's multinational empire was reflected in his Peninsula armies. The Swiss regiments, with their distinctive red uniforms, earned a reputation for steadiness under fire and loyalty to their French paymasters. The Polish Vistula Legion, including both infantry and lancers, brought exceptional élan to the battlefield. Polish lancers were particularly feared for their skill with the 9-foot lance that could outreach British cavalry sabers.
The British Army Under Wellington
Britain fielded a small but professional army, never exceeding 40,000 British troops in the Peninsula at any time. Wellington's forces were organized primarily around the infantry battalion (approximately 1,000 men when at full strength), typically drawn from county regiments with deep local traditions.
The famous "thin red line" represented the British preference for fighting in linear formation, usually two ranks deep, maximizing firepower rather than shock action. British infantry was drilled to maintain disciplined volley fire, with Wellington often positioning his troops on reverse slopes to shield them from French artillery and observation.
The elite of Wellington's army included the Guards regiments and the legendary 95th Rifles, dressed in distinctive green rather than British red. Armed with the Baker rifle instead of smoothbore muskets, these specialized troops could hit targets at three times the range of regular infantry and excelled in skirmishing tactics.
British cavalry, though outnumbered by their French counterparts, was divided into heavy dragoons, light dragoons, and hussars. While tactically effective, they gained a reputation for poor discipline, often pursuing broken enemies too far and becoming vulnerable to counter-attacks.
British artillery, though less numerous than French batteries, was well-served and included both foot artillery and the mobile Royal Horse Artillery, which provided crucial fire support at critical moments.
Portuguese and Spanish Forces
Perhaps Wellington's greatest achievement was transforming the Portuguese army from a demoralized force into an effective fighting machine. Under British officers, particularly General William Beresford, Portuguese line infantry became almost indistinguishable from British regiments in performance. The light infantry Caçadores (literally "hunters"), modeled after the British rifle regiments and wearing brown uniforms, gained particular distinction for their skirmishing abilities.
The Spanish contribution to the allied cause was complex. The regular Spanish army suffered catastrophic defeats early in the war but continued to tie down significant French resources. Spanish guerrillas, irregular forces ranging from small bands to formations thousands strong, proved devastating to French communications and morale. Operating with intimate knowledge of local terrain, they ambushed couriers, attacked isolated garrisons, and generally made French occupation untenable outside major cities.
Spanish cavalry, including both regular units and guerrilla horsemen, added mobility to the resistance forces, while Spanish artillery, though limited, contributed significantly to the defense of key strongpoints.
Uniforms and Battle Formations
The armies of the Peninsular War presented a colorful spectacle, now faithfully recreated in WoFun's detailed miniatures. French infantry predominantly wore dark blue coats with distinctive regimental facings, white crossbelts, and tall shakos. The Imperial Guard elements, when present, stood out with their bearskin caps and more elaborate uniforms.
British forces were instantly recognizable by their scarlet coats, though with considerable variation in facings, cuffs, and headgear between regiments. Highland regiments added particular flair with their kilts, feathered bonnets, and distinctive equipment. Portuguese regular troops adopted British-style uniforms but with blue coats rather than red.
Spanish forces showed the greatest variation, from the early-war troops in white uniforms with colored facings to later blue and brown uniforms, with regional units often displaying unique characteristics. Spanish guerrillas had no standard uniform, often wearing civilian clothing with only a few military accoutrements.
Battle formations reflected both national traditions and tactical evolution. French forces favored attack columns for their shock value and ability to navigate difficult terrain, supported by swarms of skirmishers. British and Portuguese troops typically fought in line formation to maximize firepower, while Spanish forces adopted a mixture of approaches, sometimes improvising tactically as battlefield conditions demanded.
These diverse forces, now captured in exquisite detail by WoFun's Peter Dennis-illustrated miniatures, offer wargamers the opportunity to recreate the dramatic clashes that determined the fate of the Iberian Peninsula and helped shape the future of Europe.
Peninsular War Collection
The collection comes in two distinct scales to accommodate different gaming preferences. The 18mm scale provides an economical option that allows for larger battles on limited table space, making it ideal for recreating major engagements like Salamanca or Vitoria. The 28mm scale offers enhanced detail and visual impact, perfect for smaller skirmishes or for gamers who prioritize the aesthetic experience of seeing individual facial expressions and uniform details.
Both scales maintain perfect proportional accuracy, ensuring that the relative sizes of infantry, cavalry, and artillery remain historically correct. This attention to detail extends to the bases, with the 18mm figures mounted on 30mm x 20mm bases and the 28mm figures on slightly larger 40mm x 30mm bases, both available in MDF with realistic grass texture printing.
From Starter to Full Packs: Building Your Forces
WoFun's Starter Packs provide the perfect entry point for newcomers to the hobby or for experienced gamers exploring a new historical period. The 18mm Peninsular War Starter Pack includes 378 figurines on 5 plexiglass sprues, offering balanced opposing forces with British, Portuguese, and French armies complete with infantry, skirmishers, cavalry, artillery, and mounted generals. The accompanying digital ruleset by Andy Callan ensures you can begin gaming immediately.
For those seeking the complete Peninsular War experience, the Full Packs are truly impressive in their scope. Containing 1,401 characters on 20 plexiglass sprues (18mm) or 39 sprues (28mm), the Full Packs encompass the war's remarkable diversity. These comprehensive collections include everything from French Line Infantry and British Guards to specialized units like the Swiss Regiment, Portuguese Cacadores, Spanish Guerrillas, and the Polish Vistula Legion.
Peter Dennis: Bringing History to Life
What truly distinguishes WoFun miniatures is the artistic brilliance of Peter Dennis, a renowned historical illustrator whose work has graced over 200 Osprey military history books. Peter brings decades of research and artistic expertise to each figurine, ensuring historical accuracy down to the smallest uniform detail while infusing each character with individual personality.
His illustrations create a unique three-dimensional illusion through clever use of shadow and perspective, making the flat plexiglass figures appear remarkably dynamic on the tabletop. Each soldier has a distinct posture, and equipment details, avoiding the uniformity often seen in mass-produced miniatures.
Unparalleled Diversity of Units
The collection's depth is particularly impressive, featuring units rarely seen in other miniature ranges. The French contingent includes not only standard Line Infantry but also specialized formations like the dustcoat-wearing campaigning troops, Swiss regiments in their distinctive red uniforms, and the ferocious Polish Lancers of the Vistula Legion.
On the Allied side, the variety is equally impressive. British forces range from Guards and Royal Regiments with blue facings to Highland Infantry in their iconic kilts. Portuguese formations include both regular Line Infantry and the distinctive brown-uniformed Cacadores. Spanish forces are represented in their full diversity, from blue and brown-coated regulars to the guerrilla forces that proved so troublesome to French occupation.
Getting Started: From Box to Battlefield
WoFun's approach to miniature wargaming shows how quickly enthusiasts can move from unboxing to actual gameplay. Where traditional wargaming often involves weeks or months of paint and preparation before the first battle can be fought, WoFun's Peninsular War collection lets you experience the thrill of command almost immediately.
From Sprues to Armies in Minutes
The most striking feature of WoFun miniatures is their ready-to-play design. Unlike traditional metal or plastic figures requiring assembly, painting, and basing, WoFun's pre-printed plexiglass troops simply press out from their sprues. Each character comes fully illustrated on both sides with Peter Dennis's detailed artwork, eliminating the need for paints, brushes, or glue.
This assembly process is remarkably quick, a complete regiment can be ready for battle in just minutes. The figurines are designed to slot directly into the MDF bases provided with the "WoFun Bases". Each base accommodates two ranks of soldiers: infantry bases hold 8 figurines (4 in front, 4 behind), cavalry bases hold 6 mounted troops (3 in front, 3 behind), and artillery bases accommodate both the gun and its crew.
Understanding Andy Callan's Ruleset
The Peninsular War collection comes with a comprehensive yet accessible ruleset designed by veteran wargame designer Andy Callan. These rules strike an excellent balance, simple enough for beginners to grasp quickly but with sufficient depth to satisfy experienced gamers.
The game system uses a structured turn sequence that unfolds in five distinct stages:
1. Shoot - Artillery and infantry fire at enemy troops within range
2. Move - Units maneuver across the battlefield
3. Fight - Close combat between units in contact with each other
4. Discipline - Units test their morale to continue fighting
5. Victory - Check if either side has reached its breaking point
This logical sequence creates a rhythm to gameplay that mirrors historical battle dynamics, where firepower often preceded movement, which then led to close combat.
Combat Mechanics
The combat system uses ordinary six-sided dice with an elegant hit resolution mechanic. Units roll varying numbers of dice based on their type and situation:
· Artillery rolls 3 dice per gun
· Infantry rolls 2 dice per company
· Cavalry rolls 2 dice per company when fighting, 3 when charging
Hits are scored on 6s at long range and on 5s and 6s at short range, with certain elite troops like Riflemen enjoying special advantages. When a unit accumulates 3 hits, it loses a company, creating a gradual attrition that mirrors the wearing down of formations in actual battles.
Close combat (melee) occurs when units move into contact with enemy troops. The side scoring more hits wins, forcing the loser to retreat. Cavalry charges are particularly dynamic, with the thundering horsemen gaining bonuses when charging but risking pursuit and overextension if they break enemy formations.
Tactical Nuances
The ruleset incorporates numerous historical tactics. Infantry can form different formations including lines (maximizing firepower) and columns (prioritizing movement and shock). British troops can form squares to defend against cavalry, while skirmishers can move ahead of main formations to harass the enemy.
Terrain features significantly impact gameplay, hills provide advantages to defenders, woods limit movement, and rivers or walls create defensive obstacles. These elements encourage thoughtful positioning and maneuver rather than simple frontal assaults.
The inclusion of morale mechanics through "Panic Tests" adds psychological depth to the game. Units that suffer losses or witness friendly troops routing must test their resolve, potentially breaking and fleeing if their morale fails. This creates cascading effects similar to historical battle collapses.
Setting Up Your First Battle
A typical game requires remarkably little beyond the miniatures themselves:
· A flat surface (ideally 6' x 4' or larger for full-sized battles)
· A handful of six-sided dice
· A measuring tool (ruler or tape measure)
· Cotton balls to represent smoke after units fire
· Small markers or counters to track casualties
Games begin with armies deployed facing each other, typically 15 "base widths" apart (60cm for 28mm figures, 45cm for 18mm). The Starter Packs include balanced forces for immediate play, with the Allied army featuring British, Portuguese and a selection of cavalry and artillery facing a comparable French force.
The rules use measurements in "base widths" rather than fixed distances, making them scale-independent. This clever approach means the same rules work seamlessly with both 18mm and 28mm figures.
Game Duration and Complexity Scaling
One of the system's strengths is its scalability. A small skirmish using just the Starter Pack forces can be completed in 1-2 hours, making it perfect for an evening's entertainment. Larger battles using the Full Pack can create epic engagements lasting 3-4 hours or spanning multiple gaming sessions.
The rules themselves offer two tiers of complexity:
1. Basic Rules - Perfect for newcomers, covering essential mechanics while omitting some nuances.
2. Advanced Rules - Adding depth through troop quality differences, command challenges, terrain effects, and specialized unit abilities.
This tiered approach allows players to start simply and gradually incorporate additional complexity as their experience grows. Beginners might begin with just the basic shooting and movement rules before adding the full morale and combat systems.
Particularly appealing for history enthusiasts is how the rules encourage period-appropriate tactics. French players will find success with aggressive column attacks supported by skirmishers, while British forces benefit from disciplined line formations and defensive positioning, mirroring the actual battlefield dynamics of the Peninsular campaigns.
Whether recreating historical engagements like Salamanca or Vitoria, or designing hypothetical scenarios, WoFun's Peninsular War collection offers an accessible yet authentic gateway to this fascinating chapter of military history, all without the traditionally lengthy preparation time that has deterred many potential wargamers in the past.