Battle of Ameixial

The Battle of Ameixial, was fought on 8 June, 1663, near the village of Santa Vitória 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 successful 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 Évora was taken on 22 May, 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 raised a 17,000 men strong army 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 were reinforced by a body of about 2,000 English troops and were put under the command of the Huguenot Schomberg.

Don John of Austria standard was captured when his squadron was almost totally killed. The standard was later presented to King Afonso VI of Portugal himself.

The Spanish casualties were very high, all of their artillery and baggage was captured, and the army was forced to retreat to Badajoz in Extremadura. When the Spanish garrison of Évora of 3,700 men capitulated on 24 June, 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.