Table 1: Was Wellington a Defensive Commander?

John Salmon, UK

Table 1
Showing battles commanded by Wellington identifying if they were offensive or defensive in character
Year of Battle Type of Battle Type of Campaign Reason for Action Result for Wellington
Assaye 1803 Offensive Offensive Destroy Mahratta Confederation Strategic Victory
Argaum 1803 Offensive Offensive Destroy Mahratta Confederation Strategic Victory
Rolica 1808 Offensive Offensive Clear road to Lisbon Tactical Victory
Vimiero 1808 Defensive Offensive Destroy French and take Lisbon Strategic Victory
Oporto 1809 Offensive Offensive Remove French from Portugal Strategic Victory
Talavera 1809 Defensive Offensive French attack to push Anglo-
Spanish force threatening Madrid		 Tactical Victory
Busaco 1810 Defensive Defensive Inflict morale-raising defeat on French before retreat to Torres Vedras Tactical Victory
Fuentes de Ornoro 1811 Defensive Offensive Defend Siege of Almeida Tactical Victory
Salamanca 1812 Offensive Offensive Destroy French army of Portugal Strategic Victory
Vitoria 1813 Offensive Offensive Destroy French in Northern Spain Strategic Victory
Pyrenees 1813 Defensive Defensive Defend sieges of San Sebastion
and Pamplona		 Tactical Victory
Bidassoa 1813 Offensive Offensive Allow invasion of Southern France Strategic Victory
Nivella 1813 Offensive Offensive Allow moves against Bayonne Tactical Victory
Nive 1813 Offensive Offensive Invest Bayonne Tactical Victory
Orthez 1814 Offensive Offensive Open route to Bordeaux Tactical Victory
Toulouse 1814 Offensive Offensive Taking of Toulouse Strategic Victory
Quatre Bras 1815 Defensive Defensive Protect communications with Prussians
developed into an attack		 Tactical Victory
Waterloo 1815 Defensive Defensive Hold French while Prussians attack flank Strategic Victory


Total: 18 battles (11 offensive, 7 defensive)

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Copyright 1996 by First Empire.