French and Allied Officer Casualties in the Peninsular War (1808–1814): A New Examination

Most of the military encounters of the Peninsular War (1808–1815) have been analyzed, mapped and subjected to critical assessment. The quantitative data available regarding the cost in lives, however, have been used only rarely to refine our understanding of the war and the influence of the different military actors in its outcome. This article compares the fatal combat casualties (killed in action and died of wounds) of the British and French officers during the six-year campaign in the Iberian Peninsula. It also compares the available data on other battles in Europe to analyze important aspects of combat in the Napoleonic Age. By making innovative use of new quantitative data available, the article raises questions for further research.