| Bernardino Freire | |
| Birth Place: | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Death Place: | Braga, Portugal |
| Allegiance: | Portugal |
| Serviceyears: | 1781–1809 |
| Rank: | Field Marshal |
| Battles: | War of the Pyrenees War of the Oranges Peninsular War |
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.[1]
See main article: War of the Pyrenees. Freire saw action in the Roussillon in 1794-1795.[1]
See main article: 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),[1] 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.[1]
Freire died at Braga, lynched by a mob.[1] 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 gaol 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.[2]
The commander of the British invasion force, Sir Arthur Wellesley complained that it was difficult to cooperate with Freire.
| Rank | Unit | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2 October 1808 | ||
| Commandant Chief | Army of Operations in Estremadura | 22 July 1808 |
| 25 February 1807 | ||
| Governor of Weapons | Porto Party | 25 February 1807 |
| 25 January 1795 | ||
| 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche | 17 December 1794 | |
| 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche | 24 September 1791 | |
| 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche | 27 April 1790 | |
| 5th Company, 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche | 27 February 1787 | |
| 5th Company, 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche | 9 October 1782 | |
| 5th Company, 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche | 25 April 1782 | |
| 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche | ||