Battle of Ameixial

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Battle of Ameixial
Part of Portuguese Restoration War
Date June 8, 1663 Location Near Estremoz, Portugal Result Portuguese victory
Combatants
Portugal and British auxiliaries	Spain
Commanders
Sancho Manoel de Vilhena and Schomberg	John of Austria the Younger
Strength
20,000	22,000
Casualties
1000	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 successfull 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 Evora 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 were able to raised a 20,000 men strong army and march against the Spanish. The Spanish commander decided to retreat to a strategic position at the north east of Evora and wait for the enemy, leaving a garrison of 3700 in Evora.

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

On June 8, the forcefull Portuguese attack breaks the Spanish position and wins 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 Evora 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.