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On 29 March 1809 the Ponte das Barcas (Bridge of Boats), a pontoon bridge on the River Douro in Porto, Portugal was the site of one of the world's most deadly bridge disasters which occurred during the First Battle of Porto between Portuguese and invading French Napoleonic troops.
The city of Porto occupies the north side of the river Douro, with the twin settlement of Vila Nova de Gaia on the south side. As French troops broke into Porto from the north and rapidly overcame the defending Portuguese soldiers, both defenders and city residents fled south over the Ponte das Barcas, towards Gaia, followed by the invaders. The causes of the disaster are unclear and disputed.[1] Deaths may have principally resulted from falls as weight of numbers led to the partial collapse of the bridge. Alternatively, or in addition, Portuguese soldiers may have opened the middle of the bridge - the bridge was designed to allow this for passage of river traffic - and citizens were pushed into the middle of the open river by the crowd fleeing behind them.[2][1] The Portuguese cavalry, forced in retreat to the riverside, added to the disaster: people were killed by the cavalrymen's swords as they attempted to clear a path to the bridge; others were trampled under their horses.[3] Still more people were killed by artillery fire from French troops on the Porto riverbank and from Portuguese soldiers who were occupying a defensive position above the south, Gaia, side of the bridge. [4]
While the exact number of deaths is unknown, estimates of around four thousand deaths are usually given.[5][6] Some reports state that by the end of disaster a few did succeed in crossing the river: they walked on the dead and drowning who filled the gaps in the damaged bridge.[7][3]
- ^ a b Santos Silva, Sara (28 March 2009). "A Ponte das Barcas: o que resiste 200 anos depois?". JPN University of Porto. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
gamawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Sorianowas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "O potencial do turismo militar para a cidade do Porto:o caso da segunda invasao francesa" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ "O desastre da ponte das barcas". RTP Ensina (in Portuguese). 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Martins, Luís Almeida (2022-03-16). "A tragédia da Ponte da Barcas". Visão (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
oman1was invoked but never defined (see the help page).