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Battle of the Lines of Elvas: Portuguese forces defeat Spanish forces during the Portuguese Restoration War

The Restoration War between Portugal and Spain began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon in 1668, bringing a formal end to the Iberian Union. The period from...

The Restoration War between Portugal and Spain began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon in 1668, bringing a formal end to the Iberian Union.

The period from 1640 to 1668 was marked by periodic skirmishes between Portugal and Spain, as well as short episodes of more serious warfare, much of it occasioned by Spanish and Portuguese entanglements with non-Iberian powers. Spain was involved in the Thirty Years' War until 1648 and the Franco-Spanish War until 1659, while Portugal was involved in the Dutch–Portuguese War until 1663.

In the 17th century and afterwards, this period of sporadic conflict was simply known, in Portugal and elsewhere, as the Acclamation War.

Historical Significance

The Restoration War between Portugal and Spain began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon in 1668, bringing a formal end to the Iberian Union.

Events Before

  1. Sweden and Denmark sign the Treaty of Roskilde; Denmark cedes Scania, Trondheim, and Bornholm to Sweden

    Sweden and Denmark sign the Treaty of Roskilde; Denmark cedes Scania, Trondheim, and Bornholm to Sweden

  2. Battle of the Dunes: English and French forces defeat the Spanish near Dunkirk during Franco-Spanish War

    Battle of the Dunes: English and French forces defeat the Spanish near Dunkirk during Franco-Spanish War

  3. Dutch troops occupy last Portuguese Fort at Jafnapatnam in Ceylon

    Dutch troops occupy last Portuguese Fort at Jafnapatnam in Ceylon

  4. French fleet recaptures Duinkerk

    French fleet recaptures Duinkerk

  5. Spanish garrison at Dunkirk surrenders to French and English

    The siege of Dunkirk in 1658 was a military operation by France and the Commonwealth of England intended to capture the fortified port city of Dunkirk, Spain's greatest privateering base, from a...

Events After

  1. English Colonel George Monck, with two brigades of troops, crosses the Anglo-Scottish border by fording the River Tweed

    English Colonel George Monck, with two brigades of troops, crosses the Anglo-Scottish border by fording the River Tweed at Coldstream and heads through knee-deep snow to London to end military rule and restore the monarchy

  2. English Long Parliament disbands

    The Convention Parliament of England (25 April 1660 – 29 December 1660) followed the Long Parliament that had finally voted for its own dissolution on 16 March that year.

  3. English Convention Parliament meets and votes to restore Charles II

    The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Royalists and Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651.

  4. English Parliament proclaims Charles II King of England and invites him to return

    Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651 and King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in…

  5. On his 30th birthday, Charles II returns to London from exile in the Netherlands to claim the English throne after the P

    On his 30th birthday, Charles II returns to London from exile in the Netherlands to claim the English throne after the Puritan Commonwealth comes to an end

More from the 1650s

Oldest surviving commercial newspaper, "Weeckelycke Courante van Europa", now known as "Haarlems Dagblad", and still in

Oldest surviving commercial newspaper, "Weeckelycke Courante van Europa", now known as "Haarlems Dagblad", and still in print, begins publication in Haarlem, Netherlands

New Amsterdam becomes a city, later renamed New York City

New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States.

First known cheque written (£400), now on display at Westminster Abbey

First known cheque written (£400), now on display at Westminster Abbey

Grand Pensionary of Holland Johan de Witt marries Wendela Bicker

Wendela Bicker (Amsterdam, baptized 30 December 1635 – 1 July 1668) was the wife of Johan de Witt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 14, 1659?
The Restoration War between Portugal and Spain began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon in 1668, bringing a formal end to the Iberian Union. The period from 1640 to 1668 was marked by periodic skirmishes between Portugal and Spain, as well as short episodes of more serious warfare, much of it occasioned by Spanish and Portuguese entanglements with non-Iberian powers. Spain was involved in the Thirty Years' War until 1648 and the Franco-Spanish War until 1659, while Portugal was involved in the Dutch–Portuguese War until 1663.
Why is Battle of the Lines of Elvas: Portuguese forces defeat Spanish forces during ... significant?
The Restoration War between Portugal and Spain began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon in 1668, bringing a formal end to the Iberian Union.

Explore More

January 14 in HistoryYear 1659