Siege of Cádiz

Cádiz became a vital refuge for Spanish government and resistance after French forces overran much of Spain. Protected by geography, fortifications, Spanish troops and British naval power, the city resisted repeated French efforts to reduce it.

The siege mattered because Cádiz allowed Spanish political authority and allied operations to survive. The Cortes of Cádiz met during the siege and produced the liberal Constitution of 1812, giving the military struggle an important political dimension.

Run Them Ashore uses the Cádiz foothold and the guerrilla war behind French lines. The context supports fiction about raids, partisans, naval support, spies, traitors and the survival of a cause inside a besieged but politically active city.