"Since April 1834, the British fleet controlled the coast of Cantabria to prevent the Carlists from unloading arms. This was one of the agreements made in the Quadruple Alliance, a treaty signed between the Liberal Spanish government and the Liberal powers of Europe, Great Britain, France and Portugal. However, following the military victories of Zumalacárregui, the Madrid government asked its allies to become more involved in the war. Although the British refused to send troops directly, in June 1835, they decided to form a military volunteer corps: the Auxiliary Legion.
The first battalion reached San Sebastián in July of that year and by mid-August, the British Auxiliary Legion with 10,000 men was already in the city. At the end of the month, it took part in an attack on Hernani and suffered its first defeat.
Sir George Lacy Evans was an experienced soldier who was placed in command of the Legion. In response to British involvement in the war, Don Carlos signed the Durango Decree, by which all foreigners fighting with the Liberals would be left out of the Elliot Convention, i.e. they would be shot…"
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