At the end of the 18th century, the explosion of the French revolutionary process vigorously affected political relations between the European monarchies. In the case of Portugal, fights against French insurgents were initially avoided with the signing of a neutrality term. However, as soon as France invaded Spain, the Portuguese position was abandoned because of a military cooperation treaty previously signed with the Hispanics.
In fact, the French advance against the Spaniards was short-lived and resolved with a new cooperation treaty. From that moment on, the Portuguese were pressured by Spain to also ally themselves with France. However, England, a nation that exercised strong economic influence in Portugal, was fighting against the French revolutionary armies and demanded that the Portuguese government express support for the British.
The discomfort of the situation ended up making it difficult to negotiate a neutrality treaty that would meet Portugal's demands. With no better alternatives, the Portuguese government organized several troops that expected an upcoming Franco-Spanish invasion of its territories. However, between 1799 and 1800, some victories of the anti-revolutionary armies gave Portugal the false impression that war would be avoided in a short time.
Needing to reduce its military expenses and free the soldiers for agricultural work, the Portuguese government decided to reduce the contingents employed until then for a possible war. Noticing the retreat, the British also decided to move the military contingents kept there in Portugal. With the British departure from their territory, the Portuguese believed that neutrality would finally be recognized.
However, in February 1801, the departure of the Spanish and British ambassadors from Lisbon revived the fear of war among the Portuguese. A few days later, the Spaniards sent a declaration of war to Portugal. Even with the official confirmation, the Portuguese still distrusted the imminence of the combat, since, in the following three months, no Hispanic troops advanced against Portuguese territory.
In fact, the delay of the Spaniards was the result of a complicated negotiation that the diplomats of that country developed with the English and French authorities. At the end of the dialogues, Spain saw that supporting France would yield the conquest of some Portuguese territories of great interest. With that, in May 1801, the Spaniards started the War of the Oranges, easily defeating the unprepared Portuguese troops commanded by the old Duke of Lafões.
During the conquest of the Alentejo territories, the Hispanic minister Manuel Godoy asked his country's troops to collect some copies of the region's fine and succulent oranges. The statesman's intention was to use the delicacies as a delicate gift for Queen Maria Luisa, with whom he had an ardent love affair known throughout Spain. It was through this small detail that the conflict ended up gaining this curious name.
By Rainer Sousa
Graduated in History
Brazil School Team
16th to 19th century - wars - Brazil School
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/guerras/a-guerra-das-laranjas.htm