Arthur Wellesley, Earl of Wellington, entered Madrid on 12 August 1812 with the Allied army. Joseph Bonaparte had abandoned the Spanish capital after the French defeat at Salamanca three weeks earlier.

On 22 July, Wellington’s British, Portuguese and Spanish forces had defeated Marshal Marmont’s army at Salamanca. The victory disrupted the French position in central Spain and left Joseph unable to defend Madrid without support from other French armies.

Joseph withdrew, and Wellington advanced towards the capital. His arrival on 12 August was met with an enthusiastic public reception. Madrid had spent much of the previous four years under French control, and the Allied army’s arrival provided a visible sign that French authority in Spain could be challenged.

The occupation also had political value. Joseph Bonaparte had been installed as King of Spain by his brother Napoleon. Driving him from his capital weakened a government already facing Spanish military resistance and guerrilla warfare.

Madrid was not the end of the campaign. French forces still held substantial parts of Spain, and Wellington knew that his army was not strong enough to treat possession of the capital as decisive.

He soon moved north to attack the fortress at Burgos. The siege failed, while French armies regrouped and threatened his position. Wellington eventually withdrew towards Portugal and Madrid again came under French control.

The entry into Madrid on 12 August was one of the clearest results of the victory at Salamanca. It showed how far the Allied position had improved, but French power in Spain had not yet been broken.