Busaco, Battle of

In the Peninsular War, battle between English and Portuguese armies under the Duke of Wellington and the French under Marshal André Masséna 27 September 1810. Wellington bought the British a little more time in delaying the French invasion of Portugal and reduced the enemy's force.

Masséna had invaded Portugal and Wellington was falling back before him toward the lines of Torres Vedras, protecting Lisbon. Upon reaching the heights of Busaco, a ridge about 45 km/28 mi northeast of Coimbra, Wellington decided to offer resistance. The French had little opportunity for tactical surprise and merely made a series of head-on assaults against the British line. They were beaten off with heavy losses, the engagement was quickly over, and the British resumed their retreat, leaving the French to follow.