Battle of Montes Claros

Battle of Montes Claros
Part of Portuguese Restoration War

17th century azulejo depiction of the Battle of Montes Claros at the Battles Room of the Palace of Fronteira, Lisbon
Date June 17, 1665
Location Near Vila Viçosa, Portugal
Result Decisive Portuguese victory
Belligerents
 Portugal  Spain
Commanders and leaders
António Luís de Meneses
Duke of Schomberg, commander of the British contingent and military advisor		 The marquis of Caracena
Strength
20,000 men:
  • 15,000 infantry[1]
  • 5,000 cavalry[2] (including an English contingent, and Irish, Scottish and French mercenaries[3])
  • 20 cannons[4]
 22,600 men:
  • 15,000 infantry[5]
  • 7,600 cavalry[6] (including German, Swiss and Italian mercenaries)
  • 14 cannons[7]
  • 2 mortars[8]
Casualties and losses
700 dead [9]
2000 wounded[10]		 4,000 killed[11]
6,000 prisoners[12]
 
São Filipe - Cape St. Vincent - Montijo – 1st Elvas - Talavera la Real – Vilanova – Lapela – Salvatierra de Miño – Olivença – Mourão – 1st Badajoz – Évora – Lines of Elvas – Monção - 2nd Badajoz – Arronches – Ameixial – Évora – Valência de Alcântara – Castelo Rodrigo – Montes Claros - Berlengas

The Battle of Montes Claros, was fought on June 17, 1665, near Vila Viçosa, between Spanish and Portuguese as the last battle in the Portuguese Restoration War. It was a great Portuguese victory and is considered as one of the most important battles in the country's history.

Contents

Prelude

The Spanish were determined to end Portuguese independence once and for all. The Marquis of Caracena had planned to march to occupy Lisbon, taking first Vila Viçosa, followed by Setúbal.

The Portuguese were prepared and had foreseen such an attack. 3,500 men were moved from Trás-os-Montes in the north to Alentejo in the south. A further 7,800 men came from Lisbon, under command of António Luís de Meneses, who had beaten the Spanish in the Battle of the Lines of Elvas, six years earlier.

Then the Spanish army moved into Portugal. The first city, Borba was empty and taken without any resistance. Vila Viçosa was well defended, and offered a stiff resistance to the attackers.

Meanwhile, the main body of the Portuguese army had set itself in motion towards the besieged city, but it stopped in Montes Claros, halfway between Vila Viçosa and Estremoz.

Caracena, informed of the approach of the Portuguese army, gave immediate orders to march towards the enemy.

The battle

The Spanish cavalry attacked in great numbers, and opened breaches in the Portuguese infantry lines. Then they were met by hails of artillery fire and had to withdraw. A second Spanish cavalry attack again caused many casualties in the Portuguese infantry lines, but again they had to withdraw with considerable losses, due to artillery fire.

The battle raged on and the fighting was extremely intense. The Duke of Schomberg had his horse shot from underneath him. The Spanish had placed all their hopes on the cavalry charges and started to lose hope. Then, after 7 hours of fighting, the Portuguese launched a counterattack. The Spanish army started to fall apart and fled in disorder towards Badajoz, leaving behind all their artillery and many dead, wounded and prisoners, the latter being eight generals.[13]

Aftermath

This battle definitively secured the Portuguese independence from Spain. The Spanish did not attempt another invasion, and signed the Treaty of Lisbon three years later, recognizing Portugal's new ruling dynasty, the House of Braganza.

Notes

  1. ^ Edward McMurdo, p.424
  2. ^ Edward McMurdo, p.424
  3. ^ British contribution to Restoration War (Portuguese)
  4. ^ Edward McMurdo, p.424
  5. ^ Edward McMurdo, p.424
  6. ^ Edward McMurdo, p.424
  7. ^ Edward McMurdo, p.424
  8. ^ Edward McMurdo, p.424
  9. ^ Edward McMurdo, p.425
  10. ^ Edward McMurdo, p.425
  11. ^ Edward McMurdo, p.425
  12. ^ Edward McMurdo, p.425
  13. ^ Edward McMurdo, p.425

References