Battle of Ameixial

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Battle of Ameixial
Part of Portuguese Restoration War
Date June 8, 1663 Location Near Estremoz, Portugal Result Anglo-Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Portugal and English auxiliaries	Spain
Commanders
Sancho Manoel de Vilhena and Schomberg	John of Austria the Younger
Strength
20,000	22,000
Casualties and losses
2000	4000 killed, 2500 wounded and 3500 prisoners

Portuguese Restoration War Montijo – Battle of the Lines of Elvas – Ameixial – Castel Rodrigo – Montes Claros

The Battle of Ameixial, was fought on June 8, 1663, near the village of Santa Vitoria do Ameixial, some 10 km 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 the renowned general John of Austria the Younger, natural son of Philip IV of Spain, the greater part of the south of Portugal was overrun. The important city of Évora was taken on May 22, opening perspectives for a march on Lisbon, 135 km to the west.

But the Spanish army lack of ammunition, food and money paralysed the army. The Portuguese raised a 20,000 men strong army and marched against the Spanish. 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 3700 in Évora.

The Portuguese were reinforced by a body of English troops, and were put under the command of the Huguenot Schomberg.

On June 8, the forceful Portuguese attack broke the Spanish position and won the day. The role of the English auxiliaries and the experience of the Duke of Schomberg were crucial.

The Spanish losses were very high and the army was obliged to retreat to Badajoz in Extremadura. When the Spanish garrison of Évora of 3700 men capitulated on June 24, 1663, the whole expedition was a complete failure.

A memorial stone was placed on the site of the battlefield.

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