Battle of Ameixial

Battle of Ameixial Part of Portuguese Restoration War 17th-century Portuguese engraving depicting the Battle of Ameixial Date 8 June 1663 Location Near Estremoz, Portugal Result Portuguese victory[1] Belligerents  Portugal England (contingent of the British Isles, including French auxiliaries)[2]  Spain Commanders and leaders Sancho Manoel de Vilhena Count of Mértola Count of Ericeira John of Austria Strength 17,000:[3] 14,000 infantry 3,000 cavalry 15 cannons 18,500:[4][5] 12,500 infantry 6,000 cavalry (including Italian auxiliaries) 18 cannons Casualties and losses 2,000 killed or wounded 8,000[6] of whom more than 4,000 killed all the artillery captured[3]

The Battle of Ameixial, was fought on 8 June 1663, near the village of Santa Vitória do Ameixial, some 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north-west of Estremoz, between Spanish and Portuguese as part of the Portuguese Restoration War.

In the spring of 1663, the Spanish had undertaken their most successful attack on Portugal, since the beginning of the war.

Under command of John of Austria the Younger, son of Philip IV of Spain, the greater part of the south of Portugal was overrun. The important city of Évora was taken on 22 May, opening perspectives for a march on Lisbon, 135 kilometres (84 mi) to the west.

But the lack of ammunition, food and money paralysed the Spanish army. The Portuguese raised a 17,000 men strong army led by Sancho Manoel de Vilhena, aided by Frederick Schomberg, 1st Duke of Schomberg, Fernando de Meneses, Count of Ericeira and other senior officers, and marched against the Spanish.^[7] The Spanish commander decided to retreat to a strategic position at the north east of Évora and wait for the enemy, leaving a garrison of 3,700 in Évora.

The Portuguese army was reinforced by three regiments of about 3,000 troops, from England (mostly from around the British isles) and were put under the command of the Duke of Schomberg.^[8] Also included were a small number of mercenaries from France.

Don John of Austria standard was captured when his squadron was almost totally killed.^[9] The standard was later presented to King Afonso VI of Portugal himself.^[9]

The Spanish casualties were very high, all of their artillery and baggage was captured,^[3][9] and the army was forced to retreat to Badajoz in Extremadura. When the Spanish garrison of Évora of 3,700 men capitulated on 24 June 1663, the whole expedition was a complete failure.

A memorial stone was placed on the site of the battlefield.^[10]

In Spain, the battle is better known as the Battle of Estremoz.

References

1. Dauril Alden, p. 115
2. Edward McMurdo, p.421
3. Edward McMurdo, p.420
4. H. V. Livermore, p. 188
5. Ribeiro, p.91
6. Atkinson, p.190
7. Rui Natário, As Grandes Batalhas da História de Portugal, Marcador Editora, Barcarena, 2013 (in oortuguese)
8. Paul, Hardacre (1960). The English Contingent in Portugal, 1662–1668, Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, volume 38. pp. 112–125.
9. Great Britain Royal Manuscripts, pp. 111-12
10. H. V. Livermore, p. 169

Bibliography

• Livermore, H. V (2004). Portugal: A Traveller's History. Boydell Press. ISBN 9781843830634.
• McMurdo, Edward (2010). The History of Portugal - From the Reign of D. Joao II. to the Reign of D. Joao V. - Volume III. Read Books Design. ISBN 9781444695694.
• Ribeiro, Ângelo (2004). História de Portugal: A Restauração da Independência-O início da Dinastia de Bragança. ISBN 989-554-110-4.
• The Manuscripts of J. M. Heathcote, Esq.,Conington Castle. General Books LLC. 2009. ISBN 9781150126819.
• Alden, Dauril (1996). The Making of an Enterprise: The Society of Jesus in Portugal, Its Empire, and Beyond, 1540-1750. Stanford University Press. ISBN 9780804722711.

Coordinates: 38°51′00″N 7°39′00″W / 38.8500°N 7.6500°W