Battle of Montijo

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Battle of Montijo

Date	May 26, 1644
Location	Near Montijo, Spain
Result	Portuguese victory

Combatants

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

~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 shock was disastrous for the Portuguese flanks as was in that point that the Spanish cavalry first attacked, causing the flee of many Portuguese, among them around 150 Dutch allies under the command of Piper. 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 his feet 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 re-begun. The portuguese artilhery officer, D. João da Costa, put every battery shooting the enemy, not allowing the spanish forces regruping.Baron of Mollingen, who didn't have any reserves,retreated until he reached the guadiana river.

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