Bernardino Freire de Andrade e Castro (Lisbon, 18 February 1759 – Braga, 17 March 1809) was a Portuguese Army general officer who was appointed, in July 1808, commander-in-chief of the Portuguese forces in the north of the country during the Peninsular War.Chartrand, René (2013). Vimeiro 1808: Wellesley’s first victory in the Peninsular, p. 37. Bloomsbury Publishing, . Google Books. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
Early career War of the Pyrenees
Freire saw action in the Roussillon in 1794-1795.
Peninsular War
In July 1808, the Supreme Junta of Oporto appointed Freire commander-in-chief of the Portuguese forces in the north of the country.
Highly critical of the Convention of Cintra (August 1808), by which Junot's French forces were allowed to leave Portugal after their defeat at Vimeiro by the Anglo-Portuguese forces commanded by Sir Arthur Wellesley, Freire was also resentful of British influence in the country.
Freire died at Braga, lynched by a mob. Having secretly fled from Braga, he had been seized by the Ordenanza of Tobossa, and brought back to the camp as a prisoner. His second-in-command, Baron Eben, the colonel of the 2nd battalion of the Lusitanian Legion, had then thrown him into the jail of Braga. Members of the Ordenanza later returned, dragged Freire out, and killed him in the street with their pikes. That same day, they also murdered Major Villasboas, the chief of Freire’s engineers, and one or more of his aides-de-camp.Oman, Charles (1903). A History of the Peninsular War, Vol. II, pp. pp. 232-233. Project Gutenberg. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
The commander of the British invasion force, Sir Arthur Wellesley complained that it was difficult to cooperate with Freire.
Promotions and Units Rank Unit Date Lieutenant General 2 October 1808 Commandant Chief Army of Operations in Estremadura 22 July 1808 Field Marshal 25 February 1807 Governor of Weapons Porto Party 25 February 1807 Brigadier 25 January 1795 Colonel 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche 17 December 1794 Lieutenant Colonel 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche 24 September 1791 Major 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche 27 April 1790 Captain 5th Company, 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche 27 February 1787 Lieutenant 5th Company, 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche 9 October 1782 Ensign 5th Company, 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche 25 April 1782 Cadet 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche
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