The Dukedom of Abrantès was a title of

Napoleonic nobility As Emperor of the French, Napoleon I created titles of nobility to institute a stable elite in the First French Empire, after the instability resulting from the French Revolution. Like many others, both before and since, Napoleon found that th ...

created in 1808 by

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

for

Jean-Andoche Junot Jean-Andoche Junot, 1st Duke of Abrantes (24 September 1771 – 29 July 1813) was a French military officer during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. Biography Early life Junot was born in Bussy-le-Grand, Côte-d'Or, so ...

. After the

King of Portugal This is a list of Portuguese monarchs who ruled from the establishment of the Kingdom of Portugal, in 1139, to the deposition of the Portuguese monarchy and creation of the Portuguese Republic with the 5 October 1910 revolution. Through the n ...

's refusal to join the Continental Blockade,

Napoleon I Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

despatched General Jean-Andoche Junot in command of the

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

invasion of Portugal. General Junot marched through Portugal and set up camp at the city of Abrantes, before advancing on

Lisbon Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...

. After the French victory, Napoleon conferred the victory title of Duke of Abrantès (French: ''Duc d'Abrantès'') upon General Junot. His wife was the French writer Laure ''née'' Martin de Permont, and she became styled as the Duchess of Abrantès. The dukedom, extinct since 1982 upon the death of Maurice, 6th Duke of Abrantès, was never formally recognized by the Portuguese government.

Bibliography

* Chartrand, René. ''Vimeiro 1808.'' London: Osprey Publishing, 2001. * Haythornthwaite, Philip. ''Napoleon's Commanders (1) c. 1792–1809.'' London: Osprey Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN, 1-84176-055-2 Dukedoms of France Dukes of the First French Empire

See also

Further reading

Bibliography