Battle of Montijo

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Battle of Montijo
Part of Portuguese Restoration War
Date May 26, 1644 Location Near Montijo, Spain Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Portugal and Dutch allies	Spain
Commanders
Matias de Albuquerque	Baron of Mollingen Marquis of Torrecusa
Strength
7,000 infantry 1,600 cavalry 6 guns	4,400 infantry 1,700 cavalry 4 guns
Casualties and losses
~4,000 dead or wounded	~900 dead or wounded

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

The Battle of Montijo, was fought on May 26, 1644, in Montijo, Spain between Portuguese and Spanish forces.

Portuguese General Matias de Albuquerque knew the Spanish were commanded by the Marquis of Torrecusa, a renown military tactician and he was willing to affirm his own presence. Although having several difficulties, he managed to gather 6,000 infantry, 1,100 cavalry and 6 cannons, in order to make a "real" battle. He crossed the frontier and attacked took Montijo.

Not having encountered the Spanish army he decided to return to the initial point from where he had departed, a better terrain for defending a possible Spanish retaliation. The Spaniards did so, and a split of Torrecusa's army led by the Baron of Mollingen met the Portuguese with an army composed by 6,000 infantry and 2,500 cavalry. Albuquerque had disposed his men for defence brilliantly and on May 26 1644 the two armies met.

The first stage of the battle was disastrous for the Portuguese flanks as was at that point that the Spanish cavalry first attacked, causing many Portuguese infantry to flee, among them around 150 Dutch allies. Led by Mollingen himself, the Spanish cavalry opened a breach in the centre of the Portuguese positions. Albuquerque's horse was killed and he was found fighting on foot by a French officer named Lamorlé (fighting for the Portuguese) who gave him his own horse.

Matias de Albuquerque noticed that their enemy didn't had any reserves, so the hostilities begun once again. The Portuguese artillery officer, D. João da Costa, mobilized every battery to shoot the enemy at the same time, not allowing the Spanish forces to regroup. Baron of Mollingen, who didn't have any reserves, retreated until he reached the Guadiana river.

With this victory, Matias de Alburquerque was named conde de Alegrete.