Battle of Ameixial

Battle of Ameixial
Part of Portuguese Restoration War
17th-century Portuguese engraving depicting the Battle of Ameixial
Date 8 June 1663 Location Near Estremoz, Portugal Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Portugal England	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Sancho Manoel de Vilhena Count of Mértola Count of Ericeira	John of Austria
Strength
17,000 (including 3,000 from British Isles): 14,000 infantry 3,000 cavalry 15 cannons	18,500: 12,500 infantry 6,000 cavalry (including Italian auxiliaries) 18 cannons
Casualties and losses
2,000 killed or wounded	8,000 of whom more than 4,000 killed all the artillery captured

 Portugal

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.

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