Date 8 June 1663 Location Estremoz, Portugal | Result Portuguese victory | |
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2,000 killed or wounded 8,000 of whom more than 4,000 killed
all the artillery captured Combatants Portugal, Kingdom of England, Bourbon Spain Similar Battle of Montes Claros, Portuguese Restoration War, Battle of the Lines of Elvas, Battle of Castelo Rodrigo, Battle of Montijo | ||
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. 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 (1 cavalry & 2 infantry) of about 3,000 troops, from England (mostly from around the British isles) and were put under the command of the Duke of Schomberg. Also included were a small number of mercenaries from France. Of this foreign contingent, almost 2000 fought in Ameixial, about 1600 incorporated in the infantry and 300 in the cavalry.
Don John of Austria standard was captured when his squadron was almost totally killed. The standard was later presented to King Afonso VI of Portugal himself.
The Spanish casualties were very high, all of their artillery and baggage was captured, 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.
In Spain, the battle is better known as the Battle of Estremoz.