I'm not arguing about what the French did or didn't do in Spain. I'm just questioning what standards were applied to different situations and how we have at various times interpreted such concepts as civilians, troops, rebellions, uprisings, recognised and unrecognised combatants, subjects, legitimate government etc. Why were the laws of the time - such as they were - created and what effect did they have? To what extent may they be used to explain and possibly condemn or justify certain activities? A person may be punished under one authority yet praised by another for the same action, and vice versa. As for court martials I'll happily state that it is not in this case an area with which I am very familiar - the Peninsular War is not an something I have as yet studied in any great detail.

I'm pleasantly surprised to see that you almost had something good to say about Suchet. What's come over you!?

Regards,
Chris