To Vigo

Vigo is situated in the south of Galicia, on the bay of the same name (Ria de Vigo) and is the biggest (almost half a million inhabitants) and economically most influential town in the region. A converging point of the economic flows of the Atlantic Euro-region, Vigo is a determinant axis in relations with northern Portugal, a position which is reinforced thanks to an excellent communications network.

The Airport of Vigo is located 10 km from the city centre, it has a wild offer of regular flights from Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Canarias, Alicante, Sevilla, Baleares, Valencia and Málaga; and also international flights from Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Stockholm and Lisbon.

Introduction

A popular revolt on the 28th of March, 1809, enables locals to recover Vigo from occupation by Napoleonic troops. More than 1,400 imperial soldiers were taken prisoners. An offensive which led to the definite expulsion of Napoleon’s army was launched all over Galicia from the Olive city.

This historic fact that the citizens of Vigo commemorate as "The Reconquest" was very transcendental. At the local level, it conferred Vigo with the title of "city", which was awarded by the Regency, and was a step forward towards the development of a powerful metropolitan area of 500,000 inhabitants. It was for the first time ever that Napoleon’s troops had to withdraw from a conquered city. After the resistance and uprisings in Zaragoza and Madrid, which ended in defeats, this first victory announced the posterior battle of Ponte Sampaio, in which the Galicians defeated the imperial army of Marshall Ney.

Vigo is holding this Congress during the celebrations of the second centenary of the "Reconquest", in order to try and help interpret the motives and consequences. This event is therefore important within the framework of the Napoleonic wars and of social, political and economic transformations that affected Europe at the dawn of the 19th century.

Place

Centro Social Caixanova ( 12-13 March )

Thursday 12 of March

Day 1:

11:00 - 11:30   Inauguración

Xosé Ramón Barreiro
Santiago Domínguez Olveira
Prince Charles Napoleón

11:30 - 12:00   Café

12:00 - 13:00   "The Spanish war and Napoleon’s European policies"
Prince Charles Napoleón

13.00 - 13.30    Colloquium

16.00 - 17.00    "The People in the Galician War of Independence"
Xosé Ramón Barreiro

17.00 - 17.30    Colloquium

17.30 - 18.00    Café

18.00 - 19.00    "Napoleonic Wars as a Clash of Empires"
Mike Rapport, University of Stirling

19.00 - 19.30    Colloquium

19.30 - 20.30    "From Vigo to Castro Urdiales: the British participation in the war of the North of Spain"
Charles Esdaile, Lecturer in History , Universidad de Liverpool

20.30 - 21.00     Colloquium

Friday 13 of March

Day 2:

11:00 - 12:00   "The War in Portugal. Portuguese help in the reconquest of Vigo."
Nuno Correia Barrento de Lemos Pires

12.00 - 12.30    Colloquium

12:30 - 13:30   "The discovery and transfer of the Martín de Garay archive, General & State Secretary of the Central Committee. Historical importance"
Nuria Alonso

13.30 - 14.00    Colloquium

16:00 - 17:00   "The British intervention: material aid for Galicia"
Alicia Laspra, University of Oviedo

17.00 - 17.30    Colloquium

17.30 - 18.00    Café

18:00 - 19:00   "Counter- Insurgency and Its Development in Europe."
Michael Broers, University of Oxford

19.00 - 19.30    Colloquium

19:30 - 20:30   "Some aspects of the War in Western Galicia and Chalot in Vigo, as viewed in France between January and May, 1809."
Jean Rene Aymes, University of Sorbonne

20.30 - 21.00    Colloquium