Small but nice

 Do you like cycling? 12 people at the very least do and have reviewed our journey among the crags and the olives.  HCM reckons ‘It's beautiful there, every time we come here it remains beautiful  .’  Carlos added ‘Rural road in perfect condition to connect with Vall d'Ebo, recommended for cycling routes.’  Karl-Hienz went five stars but only said ‘Small but nice.’


Look, we’ve a bit of time and I have done some reading so here is a totally inadequate and oversimplified version of the 1833-1840 First Carlist Wars.  



Iberia had not been a happy place, with civil wars in Portugal and Spain between reactionary challengers and Whiggish Liberals. In Spain Queen Isabella II’s forces dominated the north and centre - and to be honest any town of a decent size.  Don Carlos aka to his friends, Carlos V was based around the rural Basque Country - with some support elsewhere, especially in rural Catalonia. The Carlists had infantry which did well amid broken ground and would send expeditionary sweeps through Isabella’s lands but never really managed to hold ground or inflict significant defeats.  In the end, they lost.



Enter the British Legion. The Quadruple Alliance - France, UK, Portugal and Spain - had been formed to do what they could to stop the absolutist pretenders to the Iberian thrones.  The French sent 4000 Foreign Legionnaires in to help. The British Government decided to do something of the same kidney.  A Legion - not of regular troops - was raised under the command of De Lacy Evans.



The Legion consisted of two regiments of horse, 1st Reina Isabel Lancers [English] and Queen’s Own Irish Lancers. These were supported by 10 Line infantry battalions [4 English, 3 Scottish and 3 Irish] and a Light Infantry Brigade.  At one point they did have the assistance of 400 Royal Marines proper.



The British Legion had mixed fortunes.  After two years the term of engagement was up and most of the survivors went home. About 1600 remained to form the ‘New Legion.’  They lasted six months and then disbanded.



Let us see what tomorrow brings.

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