Battle of Vila Velha

Battle of Vila Velha
Part of Spanish invasion of Portugal
A trooper of the 16th light Dragoons, also known as Burgoyne's Light Horse.
Date 5 October 1762 Location Vila Velha de Ródão, Portugal Result British-Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Great Britain Kingdom of Portugal	Spain
Commanders and leaders
John Burgoyne Charles Lee
Strength
350 infantry & cavalry	300 infantry & cavalry, 8 guns
Casualties and losses
1 killed and 10 wounded	100 killed or wounded, 150 captured 6 guns

The Battle of Vila Velha or Battle of Vila Velha de Ródão took place in October 1762 when a British-Portuguese force led by John Burgoyne and Charles Lee surprised and recaptured the town of Vila Velha de Ródão from Spanish invaders during the Seven Years' War as part of the Spanish invasion of Portugal. Burgoyne, who took the Spanish base at Valencia de Alcántara two months earlier then marched against forces preparing to cross the River Tagus into Alentejo.

On 3 October 1762 Count of Lippe in anticipation of a Spanish offensive across the Zêzere River against the Portuguese headquarters at Abrantes instructed George Townshend to march to the Beira Baixa country, marching along the left bank of the Zêzere river, to make a junction with Lord George Lennox's forces and to threaten the Spanish lines of communication with Almeida and Ciudad Rodrigo by advancing on Belmonte and Penamacor. This new march was promptly executed and Townshend's Portuguese soldiers enduring the greatest privations; but his men successfully attacked a French force escorting a convoy near Sabugal, capturing a large quantity of supplies.

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