Prisioneros españoles en la Francia napoleónica. Un modelo positivo de los espacios de cautiverio de los suboficiales a través del diario de José Mª Román (1808-1900)

This study analyzes Spanish prisoners of war (POW), the captivity system of Non Commissioned Officers (NCO) in Napoleonic France. Its principal source is the Memoirs of José María Román (1809-1814), which are contrasted with the postcards (1900) of the military caserne where they were confined in Nancy, before going to the city of Caudebec. It is shown the quotidian life and social networks they established with the French people. Are also shown the problems they had when they return back to Spain and had to hide that experience. We offer a positive image, a model of prison that –maybe- could be generalized between NCO´s POW during Napoleonic Campaigns in France (1808-1816). An almost unknown model which speaks about the transition from the Ancient Regime to the Liberalism. KEY WORDS: Elite POW; Memoires; Napoleon´s Model; “City Prison”; Military Caserne.