When the Treaties of Tilsit ended the War of the Fourth Coalition, Emperor Napoleon of France had already expressed irritation that Portugal was open to trade with the United Kingdom. The next action was the Battle of Évora in July 1808. The following year saw the Portuguese revolt against their occupiers. The French quickly occupied the entire country and appropriated or disbanded the Portuguese army.

Junot occupied Lisbon on 30 November 1807, only to find that João and many of the leading families had escaped to Brazil aboard the Portuguese fleet. Paralyzed by fear and indecision, the Portuguese authorities offered no resistance. Nevertheless, Napoleon ordered Junot to commence the invasion, with the cooperation of three divisions from the Kingdom of Spain. Threatened by an ultimatum from Napoleon, the Portuguese government acceded to most of the demands of the French emperor. The invasion marked the start of the Peninsular War, part of the Napoleonic Wars. The French and Spanish presence was challenged by the Portuguese people and by the United Kingdom in 1808. The military operation resulted in the occupation of Portugal. The invasion of Portugal (19–30 November 1807) saw an Imperial French corps under Jean-Andoche Junot and Spanish military troops invade the Kingdom of Portugal, which was headed by its Prince Regent João of Bragança (John of Braganza). War of the Oranges 1801 First invasion of Portugal 1807–1808Ĭlass=notpageimage| Peninsular war: Portugal

The napoleonic wars