In July of the same year, having won with fewer troops, he defeated the French Marshal Auguste Marmont in the Battle of Salamanca, and after capturing the Spanish capital of Madrid, he was promoted to General and awarded the title of Marquis of Wellington.
In 1813, with a swift attack over a great distance, he annihilated the fifty-thousand-strong French army led by Louis's uncle, Spanish King Joseph Bonaparte, in the Battle of Vitoria, completely driving the French out of the Iberian Peninsula, and penetrated into French territory. With such brilliant military achievements, the King and the Parliament naturally bestowed upon him the highest level of commendation—promoting him to Army Marshal, awarding him the title of Duke of Wellington, and granting him Britain's highest honor, the 'Knight of the Garter' medal.
Of course, these were still far from all of the Duke of Wellington's honors.
