Battle of the Lines of Elvas
Encyclopedia
The Battle of the Lines of Elvas (ˈɛɫvɐʃ), was fought on 14 January 1659, in Elvas, between Portugal
and Spain
.
army commanded by D. Luis de Haro
, was camped in the frontier of the Caia River
, with 14,000 infantry, 3,500 cavalry and several pieces of artillery. The preparation of the siege of the Portuguese city of Elvas took several days, and the Portuguese expecting the attack had several days to prepare the defence. De Haro distributed his troops in trenches, giving orders to kill everyone that approached the city. The only way the situation could turn in favour of the Portuguese was a hypothetical arrival of a true army. Queen-Mother Luisa de Guzman decided to call for António Luís de Meneses
, Count of Cantanhede, and gave him the command of all Portuguese troops in Alentejo. She also transferred to the same theatre of operations Sancho Manoel de Vilhena
, who assumed the post of "Field-Master". The Spaniards initially bombarded the city, causing panic and huge casualties among the civil population while the black death
was causing 300 deaths a day.
Confronted with this situation, the Count of Cantanhede, although having extremely poor logistical conditions, managed to gather an army in Estremoz. He organized recruitments in Viseu
and in the Madeira islands and united the garrisons of Borba
, Juromenha
, Campo Maior
, Vila Viçosa
, Monforte
and Arronches
. The army had 8,000 infantry, 2,500 cavalry and seven cannons. The Portuguese plan was to attack the enemy lines in Elvas, by a near village called Murtais. The Portuguese left Estremoz and occupied the hill of Assomada, where they could see the city of Elvas and the enemy lines, in a majestic display.
On 17 January, around 8 o'clock in the morning, the Portuguese attacked near Murtais. The victory was undecided in the initial stages, as the Spanish were valiantly defending their lines, but after some time the armies of Cantanhede managed to break the lines, and the Spanish fled in panic.
Spanish casualties were huge. Of the 17,500 men commanded by D. Luis de Haro, only 5,000 infantry and 1,300 cavalry managed to reach Badajoz
.
After the success in the battle the Count of Cantanhede received among several honours, the title of Marquis of Marialva
on 11 June 1661.
A commemorative monument was placed on the site of the battlefield.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
History
In 1658 a SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
army commanded by D. Luis de Haro
Luis de Haro
Luis Méndez de Haro, 6th Marquis of Carpio, Grandee of Spain, , , was a Spanish nobleman, political figure and general....
, was camped in the frontier of the Caia River
Caia River
Caia River is a principal Portuguese river in the Portalegre District. It is a tributary to the Guadiana River, which it joins southwest of the city Badajoz. For the lower 11 km it forms the border between Portugal and Spain....
, with 14,000 infantry, 3,500 cavalry and several pieces of artillery. The preparation of the siege of the Portuguese city of Elvas took several days, and the Portuguese expecting the attack had several days to prepare the defence. De Haro distributed his troops in trenches, giving orders to kill everyone that approached the city. The only way the situation could turn in favour of the Portuguese was a hypothetical arrival of a true army. Queen-Mother Luisa de Guzman decided to call for António Luís de Meneses
António Luís de Meneses
António Luís de Meneses, 1st Marquis of Marialva and 3rd Count of Cantanhede was a Portuguese general who fought in the Portuguese Restoration War, that ended the Iberian Union between Portugal and Spain.-Biography:...
, Count of Cantanhede, and gave him the command of all Portuguese troops in Alentejo. She also transferred to the same theatre of operations Sancho Manoel de Vilhena
Sancho Manoel de Vilhena
Sancho Manoel de Vilhena, 1st Count of Vila Flor , was a remarkable Portuguese aristocrat and military leader, of royal background....
, who assumed the post of "Field-Master". The Spaniards initially bombarded the city, causing panic and huge casualties among the civil population while the black death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
was causing 300 deaths a day.
Confronted with this situation, the Count of Cantanhede, although having extremely poor logistical conditions, managed to gather an army in Estremoz. He organized recruitments in Viseu
Viseu
Viseu is both a city and a municipality in the Dão-Lafões Subregion of Centro Region, Portugal. The municipality, with an area of 507.1 km², has a population of 99,593 , and the city proper has 47,250...
and in the Madeira islands and united the garrisons of Borba
Borba
Borba may refer to:Place names* Borba, Amazonas, a municipality in Amazonas state in Brazil* Borba Municipality, Portugal* Borba, Portugal * Borba DOC, a Portuguese wine region* Borba de Montanha, parish in Celorico de Basto Municipality...
, Juromenha
Juromenha
Juromenha is a town in southeastern Portugal, near the border with Spain....
, Campo Maior
Campo Maior
Campo Maior , is a municipality in the Portalegre District, Alentejo Region, Portugal.The municipality has an area of 247,26 km² and a population of 8359 . It is divided into 3 parishes . It is bordered by Spain on the North and East, by Elvas Municipality on the Southeast, and by Arronches...
, Vila Viçosa
Vila Viçosa
Vila Viçosa is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 195.0 km² and a total population of 8,745 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 5 parishes, and is located in the District of Évora....
, Monforte
Monforte
-Places in Italy:*Monforte d'Alba, a commune in the province of Cuneo*Corleto Monforte, a commune in the province of Salerno* A Lazio village near Casalattico, formerly called Mortale but renamed in honour of the Forte family-Places in Portugal:...
and Arronches
Arronches
Arronches is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 314.8 km² and a total population of 3,278 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 3 parishes, and is located in Portalegre District....
. The army had 8,000 infantry, 2,500 cavalry and seven cannons. The Portuguese plan was to attack the enemy lines in Elvas, by a near village called Murtais. The Portuguese left Estremoz and occupied the hill of Assomada, where they could see the city of Elvas and the enemy lines, in a majestic display.
On 17 January, around 8 o'clock in the morning, the Portuguese attacked near Murtais. The victory was undecided in the initial stages, as the Spanish were valiantly defending their lines, but after some time the armies of Cantanhede managed to break the lines, and the Spanish fled in panic.
Spanish casualties were huge. Of the 17,500 men commanded by D. Luis de Haro, only 5,000 infantry and 1,300 cavalry managed to reach Badajoz
Badajoz
Badajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain, situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid–Lisbon railway. The population in 2007 was 145,257....
.
After the success in the battle the Count of Cantanhede received among several honours, the title of Marquis of Marialva
Marquis of Marialva
Count of Cantanhede was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree, dated from August 6, 1479, by King Afonso V of Portugal, and granted to D. Pedro de Menezes, 5th Lord of Cantanhede....
on 11 June 1661.
A commemorative monument was placed on the site of the battlefield.