Portugal’s Aljubarrota Underdog Victory

In 1385, a Portuguese force of about 6,600 men under King John I took a defensive position as Castile advanced with an army estimated around 31,000. The Portuguese used prepared ground and tight formations to blunt repeated assaults, then broke the larger force in a collapse that turned into a deadly retreat. The victory ended the 1383–1385 crisis, secured John I’s rule, and locked in the House of Aviz. It also helped preserve Portugal’s independence from Castile for the next two centuries.

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