Battle of Marvão

The Battle of Marvão was a military action that took place during the Fantastic War and the Anglo-Spanish War and was part of the attempted Spanish and French invasion of Portugal in late 1762.[5] A sizeable Spanish force attacked the castle town of Marvão but was repelled and defeated by an Anglo-Portuguese force under the command of Captain Thomas Browne.[4][6]

Battle of Marvão
Part of the Spanish invasion of Portugal

Castelo de Marvão
Date9–10 November 1762
Location
Marvão, Portugal
39°23′40.3″N 7°22′35.6″W
Result Anglo-Portuguese victory[1]
Belligerents
 Great Britain
Portugal		 Spain
Commanders and leaders
Thomas Browne Unknown
Strength
500[2] 4,000[3]
Casualties and losses
Light Heavy[4]

Events

Background

Two Spanish offensives aimed to overrun Portugal had failed during the summer of 1762.[7] Around the same time Spain received the support of France with 10,000 troops and equipment while Britain had sent reinforcements to aid the Portuguese; in total around 8,000 men led by John Burgoyne and General George Townshend.[8] The third invasion of Portuguese territory was stimulated by the peace negotiations between France and Great Britain.[2] Spain's position and bargaining power during the peace talks would be reinforced with a surprise attack in late autumn (campaigns were held off until Spring generally at this time).[9] However, the commander in Portugal, Count Lippe, had already reinforced essential garrisons with British troops and officers and first-line Portuguese troops.[3]

The Spanish split their army into several corps, each attacking a specific target.[5] Marvão was one the Spanish hoped to seize and hold.[9]

Battle

The Castle of Marvão, which sat on a granite crag of the Serra de São Mamede near the Tagus on the frontier, was a critical dominant feature which was vital to take to make the Spanish crossing of the Tagus easier.[3] The castle itself was defended by 500 men under Captain Thomas Browne who was in charge of a company of Colonel Bigoe Armstrong's 83rd Regiment of foot with a small detachment of Portuguese troops, militia and some cannon.[5]

As the Spanish corps strength of 4000 to 5000 men approached the area, the terrorized population pressed for surrender, but the firmness of Captain Brown prevailed, who was at first expecting a long siege.[1] He was surprised when the Spanish attacked giving the nature of the fortifications high defensive position.[4]

The Spanish attempted to move up via the straightforward approach of the southeast side of Marvão; Brown then sent reinforcements from the central citadel to that side.[2] The British and Portuguese opened fire with muskets and cannons against the Spanish assailants who tried to throw themselves up against the walls.[10] To compound problems many of the Spanish scaling ladders were too short to mount the walls, and they were easily repelled with heavy losses; the Spanish lost many men to accidents as well as cannon and musket fire.[2][5] The Spanish commander, realizing the surprise was lost and the castle being well defended, called off the attack; he was not prepared for a siege and retreated the next day.[3]

Aftermath

The other Spanish advance was halted at Ouguela (another small fort), but the Portuguese garrison was equally prepared there.[1] The Spanish were driven before the place with considerable losses and obliged to abandon the attempt.[2][10]

On 19 November, both garrisons retaliated, joined forces, and raided and held the Spanish town of La Codosera.[6] The resistance that the Spaniards met with in these small places had a visible effect upon their movements and convinced them that any attempt upon the Alentejo would require a decisive victory.[1] The lateness of the season in some measure contributed to this, and disease was taking a huge toll, as well as the lack of supplies.[6]

On 15 November, the Spanish force retreated; on 22 November, Spain asked for a truce.[9]

See also

References
Citations
  1. Halliday, Andrew (1812). The present state of Portugal, and of the Portuguese Army: with an epitome of the ancient history of that Kingdom. Clarke. pp. 103–04.
  2. Sales, Ernesto Augusto Pereira (1937). O conde de Lippe em Portugal Volume 2 of Publicações da Comissão de História Militar Author (in Portuguese). Vila Nova de Famalicão. pp. 55–62.
  3. The Royal Military Chronicle Vol 5. J. Davis. 1812. p. 53.
  4. Baule p 85
  5. Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Volume 59. Society for Army Historical Research. 1981. pp. 41–43.
  6. d' Arruela, José (1980). O equilíbrio peninsular (dez invasões espanholas) (in Portuguese). Coimbra. pp. 121–123.
  7. Nester p.218
  8. Jaques p 37
  9. Speelman, Patrick & Danley, Mark (2012), The Seven Years' War: Global Views pp. 447-48
  10. Boletim do Arquivo Histórico Militar, Volumes 22-24 (in Portuguese). Arquivo Histórico Militar. 1952. p. 212.
Bibliography
  • Baule, Steven M (2014). Protecting the Empire's Frontier: Officers of the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot during Its North American Service, 1767–1776. Ohio University Press. ISBN 9780821444641.
  • Jaques, Tony (2006). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A Guide to 8500 Battles from Antiquity Through the Twenty-first Century. Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0313335365.
  • Kirby, Mike. "The Portuguese Army - Seven Years War". Seven Years War Association Journal. XII (3).
  • Nester, William R (2000). The First Global War: Britain, France, and the Fate of North America, 1756-1775. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780275967710.
  • Sales, Ernesto Augusto Pereira (1937). O conde de Lippe em Portugal Volume 2 of Publicações da Comissão de História Militar Author. Vila Nova de Famalicão.
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