Page 258 - Conflitti Militari e Popolazioni Civili - Tomo I

258 XXXIV Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

cial inquiry” 5 or 6 persons considered guilty were killed. It seems, however, that the real
individual responsible, a major of militia together with some companions managed to escape
(Napier, 1993: II, 227-231).
During the occupation of Oporto, civilians had to live together with their enemy, the
French troops. Some divisions were quartered in barracks and convents, while the officers
were lodged in the inhabitants’ houses. In fact, 167 officers, 50 servants, 129 horses and a
donkey were accommodated in the city centre. We obtained these data in a document kept
in the Oporto Municipal Archives and we could ascertain that the major part of them, were
billeted with the knowledge of their superiors. As we can image this must have caused a great
deal of inconvenience to the civilian population (AHMP, Maço nº. 1832). On the other hand
Portuguese authorities were summoned to deliver furniture, household-linen, table-linen,
bed-clothes and other objects of daily use, all of the best quality, to the occupant. This was of
course very onerous to the city (Basto, 1926: 148-156).
We would also like to draw attention to the collaborationism that took place between the
inhabitants and the military occupant. In fact, some of the Portuguese were convinced that
the only way to modernize and develop Portugal was under Napoleon’s rule, which could
give the country a Constitution and put in practice the Revolution’s ideas and achievements.
Obviously many of these people had problems after the war. But, besides this, there was also
what we could probably call another form of collaborationism. After the retreat of Soult’s
army one woman was arrested and accused of receiving at her home French officers and that
she had said that they would return and play ball with the head of the Portuguese. She de-
nied all these accusations and declared that the plaintiffs were two Portuguese soldiers who
besides desiring to maintain with her illicit relations, wanted to rob her. The fact that they
wanted to steal from her was proved. But on the other hand however although the inventory
made by the judiciary authorities of all her belongings, showed that she owned money and
some valuable objects, like silver-plate, jewels and a big quantity of other items such as
furniture, household linen and nice clothes. And we must bear in mind that the city was plun-
dered for three days. Besides, this inventory was made on demand of a man who wanted to
know if some of his things were among them. This was possible, because at the approach of
the French army he had fled his home, living behind all his personal property and the house
was used by several French officers who lived there some women, including the accused.
We also ascertained that this woman sometimes received at her home French officers and
that although single she had a nine year old daughter, whose deceased father had left her an
important heritage in Brazil. So, after analyzing the judiciary process we can guess that even
if she had not been favourable to Soult’s government, she maintained closed relations with
some French officers, making it possible that she continued in possession of all her assets.
This fact aroused the cupidity of the Portuguese soldiers (BPMP, Ms. 1773).
as we have seen on this paper, taking as an example the armed French interventions
of 1807-1808 and 1809, precisely 200 years ago, we can see how the military operations
disrupted everyday life and affected the civilians. To start with the Portuguese royal family
and the court left to Brazil, the country was invaded and became a theatre of operations that
caused suffering and destructions. Not only Portugal had in its territory the French occupa-
tion army, but after the beginning of August 1808 also a British army, under the command of