D. Pedro de Almeida Portugal, 3rd Marquis of Alorna (16 January 1754 – 2 January 1813) was a Portuguese general who served in the French Army during the Napoleonic Wars.

Military career

Marquês de Alorna com o uniforme de cavalaria da Legião de Tropas Ligeiras

In November 1793, Almeida was an adjutant general. He commanded Portuguese forces in Spain, fighting against the French. In 1798, he became the commander of a unit of light troops known as the Alorna Legion. Almeida was promoted to major general in 1799. He began conspiring with the French, and helped force the Portuguese court to flee to Brazil in 1807. He was promoted to lieutenant general in October of that year, and charged with the defense of Elvas. However, under the orders of the prince regent, he was forced to surrender Elvas to the Spanish on 2 December 1807. Almeida was governor of the

Alentejo Alentejo ( , ) is a geographical, historical, and cultural region of south–central and southern Portugal. In Portuguese, its name means "beyond () the Tagus river" (''Tejo''). Alentejo includes the regions of Alto Alentejo and Baixo Alent ...

province until 22 December 1807, when

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 ...

, the invading French general, made him inspector general and commander of all Portuguese forces stationed in the provinces of Beira,

Trás-os-Montes Trás-os-Montes () is a geographical, historical and cultural region of Portugal. Portuguese for "behind the mountains", Trás-os-Montes is located northeast of the country in an upland area, landlocked by the Douro and Tâmega rivers to south a ...

, and Estremadura. On 15 February 1808 he was named inspector general of all Portuguese forces, and commanded them in Spain from March to June 1808. On 1 August 1808 he was named a major general in the service of Napoleonic Spain. On 22 April 1810 Almeida was assigned to the staff of André Masséna, and played an important role in the Siege of Almeida. He entered France in July 1811 and was assigned to the Observation Corps of the

Grande Armée ''La Grande Armée'' (; ) was the main military component of the French Imperial Army commanded by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte during the Napoleonic Wars. From 1804 to 1808, it won a series of military victories that allowed the French Empi ...

on 30 January 1812. Named major general in the service of France on 21 March 1812, Almeida was put in charge of the 2nd company of Portuguese chasseur. He was then made commander of the Portuguese light cavalry regiment. He participated in the retreat from Russia and died during it in Königsberg. He was succeeded by his sister,

Leonor de Almeida Portugal, 4th Marquise of Alorna D. Leonor de Almeida Portugal, 4th Marquise of Alorna, 8th Countess of Assumar (31 October 1750 – 11 October 1839) was a Portuguese noblewoman, painter, and poet. Commonly known by her nickname, ''Alcipe'', the Marquise was a prime figure in t ...

Marriage and descendants

Almeida married Henriqueta Julia Gabriela da Cunha (1787-1829), eldest daughter of the Count of São Vicente, on 19 February 1782 in

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 ...

. The couple had two children. 1754 births 1813 deaths Military personnel killed in the Napoleonic Wars People from Lisbon Portuguese generals Portuguese military commanders of the Napoleonic Wars 18th-century Portuguese military personnel 19th-century Portuguese military personnel Portuguese military personnel killed in action Portuguese nobility {{Portugal-mil-bio-stub