Battle of Valverde (1385) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Valverde
Part of the Portuguese Crisis of 1383–1385
Date 14 October 1385 Location Valverde de Mérida, Castile Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Portugal	Crown of Castile
Commanders and leaders
Nuno Álvares Pereira	Pedro Muñiz de Godoy y Sandoval  †
Strength
About 3,000 men: 2,000 foot soldiers 1,000 lances Several crossbowman	About 20,000 men
Casualties and losses
High	Very High

The Battle of Valverde happened on October 14, 1385. It took place near Valverde de Mérida in Castile. This battle was fought between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Crown of Castile. It was an important part of the Portuguese Crisis of 1383–1385. Portugal won this battle.

Why the Battle Happened: The Prelude

Just two months before Valverde, Portugal had a big win at the Battle of Aljubarrota. After this victory, the main military leader of Portugal, Nuno Álvares Pereira, decided to attack. He wanted to invade Castile, Portugal's neighbor.

The Portuguese army started its journey from Estremoz. They marched through Vila Viçosa and Olivença. Then, they entered Castilian land. They easily took over Villagarcia, which had no defenders. From there, they moved towards the town of Valverde.

Meanwhile, the Castilians were waiting for more soldiers. They marched to stop the Portuguese from crossing the Guadiana river. The Castilian army grew to about 20,000 men. Many local people joined them. Several important nobles were also present. These included the Master of the Order of Calatrava, Gonzalo Núñez de Guzman, and the Master of the Order of Alcántara. Also there was the Portuguese Martim Anes de Barbuda and Pedro Muñiz de Godoy y Sandoval. Pedro was the Grand Master of the Order of Santiago.

How the Battle Unfolded

A part of the Castilian army crossed the river. They positioned themselves on the opposite bank. The rest of their army stayed put. Their plan was to surround the Portuguese as they tried to cross the river. Nuno Álvares Pereira then told his army to form a square shape. They put their supplies in the middle. He bravely led his soldiers across the river, even though the Castilians tried to stop them.

When they reached the riverbank, Nuno Álvares Pereira gave new orders. He told his rearguard (the back part of the army) to protect the supplies. They also had to fight the enemy. Meanwhile, he led his vanguard (the front part of the army) across the river. About 10,000 Castilian soldiers were on the other side. They tried to stop the Portuguese from landing, but they failed.

After getting his vanguard into position, Nuno Álvares Pereira crossed the river again. He went back to help his rearguard. They were under a heavy rain of arrows from the Castilian side. The Constable of Portugal (Nuno Álvares Pereira) noticed something important. The Castilians had used up all their arrows. He immediately ordered an attack.

Nuno Álvares Pereira himself saw the flag of the Grand Master of Santiago. He fought his way through the Castilian army to reach him. After a short fight, the Grand Master was badly wounded and fell. When their leader fell and his flag was knocked down, the Castilian army lost hope. They became disorganized and couldn't stop the Portuguese attack. The Castilian army was quickly and completely defeated.

What Happened Next: The Aftermath

The Portuguese army chased the Castilians until nightfall. The next morning, they returned to Portugal. Castile had suffered a huge loss at Aljubarrota. Now, they faced another big defeat at Valverde. Because of these losses, most of the Portuguese towns that Castile still held soon surrendered. They gave up to John I of Portugal, the new king.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Valverde para niños

• History of Portugal
• House of Avis
• Battle of Trancoso
• Battle of Atoleiros
• Hundred Years War
• João das Regras
• Treaty of Windsor (1386)