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Why was Arthur Wellesley made Viscount Wellington after the Battle of Talavera?
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Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington, oil on canvas by Sir Thomas Lawrence.
Arthur Wellesley was awarded a peerage and created Viscount Wellington following the Battle of Talavera (July 27â28, 1809) as a reward for his offensive actions during the campaign. Although the joint Anglo-Spanish advance on Madrid ultimately failed and forced Wellesley to retreat, his victory at Talavera was recognized by the government as a significant military achievement, leading to his elevation in the peerage.12