Battle of Ameixial

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Ameixial
campaign=

caption=
partof=Portuguese Restoration War
date=June 8, 1663
place=Near Estremoz, Portugal
result=Anglo-Portuguese victory
combatant1=flag|Portugal|1640 and
English auxiliaries
combatant2=flag|Spain|1506
commander1=Sancho Manoel de Vilhena and Schomberg
commander2=John of Austria the Younger
strength1=20,000
strength2=22,000
casualties1=2000
casualties2=4000 killed, 2500 wounded and 3500 prisoners

The Battle of Ameixial, was fought on June 8 1663, near the village of Santa Vitoria 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 Evora was taken on May 22, 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 20,000 men strong army and marched against the Spanish. The Spanish commander decided to retreat to a strategic position at the north east of Evora and wait for the enemy, leaving a garrison of 3700 in Evora.

The Portuguese were reinforced by a body of English troops, and were put under the command of the Huguenot Schomberg.

On June 8, the forceful Portuguese attack broke the Spanish position and won the day. The role of the English auxiliaries and the experience of the Duke of Schomberg were crucial. The Spanish losses were very high and the army was obliged to retreat to Badajoz in Extremadura. When the Spanish garrison of Evora of 3700 men capitulated on June 24 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.