- Battle of Atoleiros
Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Atoleiros
caption=
partof=1383–1385 Crisis
date=6 April ,1384
place=Atoleiros,Alentejo ,Portugal
result=Portuguese victory
combatant1=flag|Portugal|1248
combatant2=flag|Castile
commander1=Nuno Álvares Pereira
commander2=John I of Castile ,D. Pedro Álvares
strength1=1800
strength2=6000
casualties1=unknown
casualties2=unknown|The Battle of Atoleiros (pronounced|ɐtuˈlɐjɾuʃ) took place on
6 April 1384 , between a Portuguese force and apunitive expedition from Castile sent by John I. Thebattle took place near the population centre of the same name inAlentejo . It was the first major battle of the1383–1385 Crisis .Nuno Álvares Pereira had been chosen to protect the frontier in this area, amid fear that a Castilian force could enter Portugal here. He left fromLisbon , adding to the strength of his forces on his way toAtoleiros . As he approached the Castilian army, the Castilians sent anemissary in to the Portuguese army, attempting to dissuade it. The Portuguese refused, and when the Castilians advanced to meet them, breaking the ongoing siege to the village ofFronteira . The Portuguese formed a defensive square and in the short battle that followed, the Castiliancavalry was unable to break the Portuguese formation, and withdrew.The battle of Atoleiros represents the first time where we see the effective use of the “square tactics” on the battleground. This famous tactic, widely used by British troops, consisted of defense techniques used by infantry especially when they had to fight against a strong heavy cavalry enemy side while in numerical disadvantage.
In this precise battle the Castilians suffered heavy losses and the Portuguese neither registered any deaths nor wounded people among their ranks
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