Spanish-Portuguese War, 1761-1763
Encyclopedia
The Spanish-Portuguese War between 1761 and 1763 was fought as part of the Seven Years' War
. Because no major battles were fought, even though there were numerous movements of troops, the war is known in the Portuguese history as the Fantastic War (Portuguese
and Spanish
: Guerra Fantástica), or War of the Pacte de Famille
.
When the Seven Years' War between France and Great Britain started in 1756, Spain and Portugal remained neutral.
Their differences in South America had been settled by the Treaty of Madrid (1750)
.
King Ferdinand VI of Spain
's prime minister Ricardo Wall opposed the French party who wanted to enter the war on the side of France.
Everything changed when Ferdinand VI died in 1759 and was succeeded by his younger brother Charles III of Spain
. Charles was more ambitious than his melancholic brother.
One of the main objects of Charles's policy was the survival of Spain as a colonial power and, therefore, as a power to be reckoned with in Europe.
By 1761 France looked like losing the war against Great Britain. Furthermore, Spain suffered from attacks by English privateers in Spanish waters, and claimed compensation.
Fearing that a British victory over France in the Seven Years' War would upset the balance of colonial power, he signed the Family Compact
with France (both countries were ruled by branches of the Bourbon
family) in August 1761.
This brought war with Great Britain in January 1762.
Portugal had been struck by the disastrous 1755 Lisbon earthquake
. The Prime Minister Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal directed all efforts towards the reconstruction of the country, and neglected the armed forces, for which he had little interest anyhow.
By the Treaty of El Pardo (1761)
between Spain and Portugal all aspects of the Treaty of Madrid were null and void.
, and also decided to attack Portugal in South America, and in particular to take the long disputed Colonia del Sacramento
.
During the war, a Franco‑Spanish army, with about 40,000 men, invaded Portugal in 1762 through the border of Trás-os-Montes
, conquering Miranda
, Bragança
and Chaves
. In order to fight back, an Anglo-Portuguese army, composed of 20,000 men, was formed under the command of Wilhelm, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe
.
The Spanish invasion of Portugal (1762)
in effect made Great Britain send a force of 8,000 men to Portugal, but little more was achieved. The First Cevallos expedition
in present-day Uruguay was more successful, but was insignificant to the outcome of the war.
In the Treaty of Paris (1763)
the status-quo between Spain and Portugal of before the war was restored.
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. Because no major battles were fought, even though there were numerous movements of troops, the war is known in the Portuguese history as the Fantastic War (Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Guerra Fantástica), or War of the Pacte de Famille
Pacte de Famille
The Pacte de Famille is one of three separate, but similar alliances between the Bourbon kings of France and Spain.- The first Pacte de Famille :...
.
When the Seven Years' War between France and Great Britain started in 1756, Spain and Portugal remained neutral.
Their differences in South America had been settled by the Treaty of Madrid (1750)
Treaty of Madrid (1750)
The Spanish–Portuguese treaty of 1750 or Treaty of Madrid was a document signed by Ferdinand VI of Spain and John V of Portugal on January 13, 1750, concerning their empires and status of their territories in what is now Brazil....
.
King Ferdinand VI of Spain
Ferdinand VI of Spain
Ferdinand VI , called the Learnt, was King of Spain from 9 July 1746 until his death. He was the fourth son of the previous monarch Philip V and his first wife Maria Luisa of Savoy...
's prime minister Ricardo Wall opposed the French party who wanted to enter the war on the side of France.
Everything changed when Ferdinand VI died in 1759 and was succeeded by his younger brother Charles III of Spain
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
. Charles was more ambitious than his melancholic brother.
One of the main objects of Charles's policy was the survival of Spain as a colonial power and, therefore, as a power to be reckoned with in Europe.
By 1761 France looked like losing the war against Great Britain. Furthermore, Spain suffered from attacks by English privateers in Spanish waters, and claimed compensation.
Fearing that a British victory over France in the Seven Years' War would upset the balance of colonial power, he signed the Family Compact
Pacte de Famille
The Pacte de Famille is one of three separate, but similar alliances between the Bourbon kings of France and Spain.- The first Pacte de Famille :...
with France (both countries were ruled by branches of the Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
family) in August 1761.
This brought war with Great Britain in January 1762.
Portugal had been struck by the disastrous 1755 Lisbon earthquake
1755 Lisbon earthquake
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake, also known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, was a megathrust earthquake that took place on Saturday 1 November 1755, at around 9:40 in the morning. The earthquake was followed by fires and a tsunami, which almost totally destroyed Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal, and...
. The Prime Minister Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal directed all efforts towards the reconstruction of the country, and neglected the armed forces, for which he had little interest anyhow.
By the Treaty of El Pardo (1761)
Treaty of El Pardo (1761)
The Treaty of El Pardo was signed on February 12, 1761 between representatives of the Spanish Empire and the Portuguese Empire.Based on the terms of the treaty, all aspects of the Treaty of Madrid were repealed...
between Spain and Portugal all aspects of the Treaty of Madrid were null and void.
The war
Spain agreed with France to attack Portugal which remained neutral, but which was an important economical ally of Great Britain. France hoped that this new front would draw away British forces, now directed against France. On May 9 Spain invaded PortugalSpanish invasion of Portugal (1762)
The Spanish invasion of Portugal, between 9 May and 24 November 1762, was the principal military campaign of the Spanish–Portuguese War, 1761–1763, which in turn was part of the larger Seven Years' War...
, and also decided to attack Portugal in South America, and in particular to take the long disputed Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is a city in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the oldest town in Uruguay and capital of the departamento of Colonia. It has a population of around 22,000.It is renowned for its historic quarter, a World Heritage Site...
.
During the war, a Franco‑Spanish army, with about 40,000 men, invaded Portugal in 1762 through the border of Trás-os-Montes
Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro is a historical province of Portugal located in the northeastern corner of the country. Vast plateaus, river valleys, mountains, and castles abound in Trás os Montes e Alto Douro....
, conquering Miranda
Terra de Miranda
Terra de Miranda the historical name of a 500 km² mesa in northeastern Portugal, lying on the border of Spain...
, Bragança
Bragança (Portugal)
Bragança is a city and municipality in north-eastern Portugal, capital of district of Bragança, in Alto Trás-os-Montes subregion of Portugal. In 2001, the population of the municipality was 34,774, in an area of 1173.57 km².-History:...
and Chaves
Chaves (Portugal)
Chaves is a municipality and municipal seat of an area 10 km south of the Spanish border and 22 km south of Verín in the north of Portugal. The municipality is the second most populous of the district of Vila Real...
. In order to fight back, an Anglo-Portuguese army, composed of 20,000 men, was formed under the command of Wilhelm, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe
William, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe
Wilhelm, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg , born Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Graf zu Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg, was a ruler of the County of Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg, and an important military commander in the Seven Years' War.-Biography:He was born in London the son Albrecht Wolfgang, Count of...
.
The Spanish invasion of Portugal (1762)
Spanish invasion of Portugal (1762)
The Spanish invasion of Portugal, between 9 May and 24 November 1762, was the principal military campaign of the Spanish–Portuguese War, 1761–1763, which in turn was part of the larger Seven Years' War...
in effect made Great Britain send a force of 8,000 men to Portugal, but little more was achieved. The First Cevallos expedition
First Cevallos expedition
The First Cevallos expedition was a military action between September 1762 and April 1763, by the Spanish forces led by Don Pedro Antonio de Cevallos, Governor of Buenos Aires, against the Portuguese in South America as part of the Seven Years' War...
in present-day Uruguay was more successful, but was insignificant to the outcome of the war.
In the Treaty of Paris (1763)
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. It ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War...
the status-quo between Spain and Portugal of before the war was restored.