Strategic situation: The18 May 1644, a strong Portuguese army of 10 000 men, under the command of Matías Alburquerque, leave their base of Campo Maoir to attack the city of Alburquerque in the province of Extremadura. Well informed, the Spanish Governor of Extremadura, the Marques of Torrecuso, sent 600 foots to reinforce the garrison of the city. Judging that the siege of Alburquerque was not possible anymore, the Portuguese army move to the south, burning and looting the villages nearby in an attempt to provoke the Spanish. Meantime, Torrecuso organised quickly an army of 6 000 men, leaving only 1 000 foots and 200 horses to garrison his main base of Badazoz. The 22 of May the Portuguese camped near the village of Montijo at 32 km east of Badajoz. Two days later the Spanish army camped at Lobón at just 6 km of Montijo.

The Spanish army  was small, some 6 000 men and they were deployed as follow: on the left wing we have 6 cavalry squadrons, most of them italians, under the command of Francisco de Velasco. In the centre we have the infantry under the command of the marques of Torrecuso with in the first line 1 Neapolitan battalion (Piñatelo), 1 Irish battalion reinforce by Spanish soldiers (Geraldino) and 2 Spanish battalions (Xeoler and Pulgar), in the second line, 3 Spanish battalions (Monroy, Olivera and Aguëro). On the right wing we have 6 cavalry squadrons from the Guardias of Castillas under the command of the Baron of Molingen. The reserve was composed of 2 cavalry squadrons (some 250 horses) and the artillery was divided in two batteries of 2 guns. To compensate the lack of infantry, the Spanish foots were deployed on 6 rows.

The Portuguese army, under the command of Matías de Alburquerque, had more infantry, some 7 000 foots and less cavalry some 1400 horses and 200 dragoons. The infantry under the command of Diego Gomes de Figueyred,o had 9 terços (Ayres de Saldaña, Nuno Mascareñas, Luis da Silva, Joao de Sousa, Francisco de Melo, Martín Ferreira, Eustacio Pique (dutch), Sir Davis Cale (english), Conde de Pardo) and was subdivided in 10 infantry battalions  (deployed on 10 rows) and positioned as follow, 5 battalions in the first line, 4 battalions in the second and 1 bataillon and a detachment of  400 musketeers near Montijo guarding the baggage. The cavalry was deployed with 5 squadrons on the left (Gaspar Pinto de Pestanha)and 5 on the right (Montero Mayor del Reino). The artillery ( Joâo Da Costa) was positioned in front of the infantry. 

(A): The 25 of may the Spanish army cross the river Guadiania near Lobon and strated to deploy in a plain on the north bank of the river. next morning the portuguese army leave their position and deployed in front of the Spanish army. (B): The battle started with a short cannonade. After1 hour the Spanish cavalry, under the command of Molingen, opened with a right flank cavalry charge, routing the Portuguese cavalry to their front. The Spanish Cavalry followed her action and attacked the Portuguese infantry. At the same time the Spanish Tercios of the first line advanced to attack the Portuguese left. (C): Torrecuso called the Tercio of Aguëro to support his attack on the right. The Spanish Infantry and cavalry melted with the Portuguese troops and after hard fighting forced the Portuguese to run away. (D): Meanwhile, on the left Spanish flanks, the Spanish cavalry charged, routing the Portuguese cavalry and pursuing them in their retreat. The Tercio of Monroy advanced to the left to support the attacked of the first line against the Portuguese infantry. (E): Most of the Portuguese cavalry run away, pursuit by the Spanish. A large proportion of the Portuguese infantry started to retreat followed by some disorganised Spanish Tercios. (F): At that moment most of the undisciplined Spanish infantry started to leave the battalions to loot creating the chaos in the Spanish line. A large proportion of this troops leave the battlefield taking the road to Lobón. Torrecuso and Molingen were not able to reorganise correctly the Spanish forces. (G): The Portuguese commander was able to reorganise a force of 4 infantry squadrons and 2 cavalry troops to protect the baggage and to retake the artillery. The lack of organised Spanish troops give the opportunity to the Portuguese to retreat in good order saving their guns and a part of their baggage.

Balance:  The Portuguese army was able to retreat to Portugal without problem, loosing some 3786 men (Spanish source). The Spanish lost some 433 dead and 375 wounded but did not follow Alburquerque's army. Montijo was the only important Spanish victory in a pitch battle in the war of Portugal (1640 - 1668). The Spanish monarchy did not have the money or the troops to maintain a large army in this front; in fact the front of Extremadura was secondary in the Spanish strategy

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