Battle of Montijo

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Montijo

caption=
partof=Portuguese Restoration War
date=May 26, 1644
place=Near Montijo, Spain
result=Portuguese victory
combatant1=flag|Portugal|1640 and
flagicon|Netherlands|pri Dutch allies
combatant2=flag|Spain|1506
commander1=Matias de Albuquerque
commander2=Baron of Mollingen
Marquis of Torrecusa
strength1=7,000 infantry
1,600 cavalry
6 guns
strength2=4,400 infantry
1,700 cavalry
4 guns
casualties1=~4,000 dead or wounded
casualties2=~900 dead or wounded

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 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 defense brilliantly and on May 26 1644 the two armies met.

The first stage of the battle was disastrous for the Portuguese flanks as it was at that point that the Spanish cavalry first attacked, causing many Portuguese infantry to flee, among them around 150 Dutch allies. 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 foot 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 began once again. The Portuguese artillery officer, D. João da Costa, mobilized every battery to shoot the enemy at the same time, not allowing the Spanish forces to regroup. The Baron of Mollingen, retreated until he reached the Guadiana river.

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