Category: War

Juan de Garay

Although the Portuguese War (1640-1665) was not the most glorious campaign of our Tercios, there were some specific battles that gave our weapons a luster. In December 1640, the Portuguese army suffered a major defeat at the town of Valverde , near Olivenza.

From the beginning of the war, it was clear that the Portuguese intention was not only to regain their independence, but also to seize Extremadura.

In December 1640, a Portuguese army, commanded by General Francisco Rabello, with 5,000 infantry and 900 cavalry, attempted to take by surprise the town of Valverde de Leganés, near Olivenza and on the road to Badajoz (which would later be unsuccessfully besieged by the Portuguese).

The Biscayan captain Juan de Garay, acting commander of the Army of Extremadura at the time, had received a tip-off about the Portuguese plans, which allowed him to send ahead of time the Tercios of the Marquis of Rivas and the Navarrese Marquis of Falces, along with 3,000 cavalry soldiers under the command of Don Antonio Pacheco.

After some skirmishes and light fighting, the Portuguese advanced en masse toward the town. They easily breached the wall, which was in poor condition, and penetrated Valverde.

A fierce battle ensued, street by street, house by house, in which Spanish soldiers and local residents fought side by side, even from windows and rooftops. In the town square, next to the church, the battle was brutal. Finally, a squad of Spanish civilians and soldiers under Captain Don Diego de Lara attacked the enemy from behind and decided the battle.

The Portuguese general Rabello was killed by a well-aimed lance thrust from his horse, and the Portuguese then scattered, being cut down. The battle was very bloody. 800 Spaniards and 2,000 Portuguese died. A difficult war had just begun.