But here, again, the situation had been fatally compromised by the recall of the ablest of the French commanders in Spain.

Wellington afterwards said that Soult was second only to Massena among the French Marshals pitted against him.

He had some defects.

"He did not quite understand a field of battle: he was an excellent tactician, knew very well how to bring his troops up to the field, but not so well how to use them when he had brought them up."[313] But the fact remains that, with the exception of his Oporto failure, Soult came with credit, if not glory, out of every campaign waged against Wellington.

Yet he was now recalled.
Indeed, this vain and ambitious man had mortally offended King Joseph.
After Salamanca he had treated him with gross disrespect.