Battles & Campaigns · 1384
Battle of Atoleiros
Atoleiros, near Fronteira, Portugal
What happened
A Castilian army was besieging the village of Fronteira. Pereira would not withdraw, so the Castilians lifted the siege and advanced against him. The Portuguese formed a defensive square, and the Castilian cavalry could not break it and had to withdraw.
Why it matters
It was the first major battle of Portugal's 1383–1385 crisis. It is described as the first effective use of the infantry square, a tactic still used 500 years later.
What came next
Pereira led Portugal to victory at Aljubarrota the next year and at Valverde.
Did you know?
According to tradition, the Portuguese won without losing a single man.
Timeline
- 6 Apr 1384Battle of Atoleiros.
- 14 Aug 1385Battle of Aljubarrota.
- 15 Oct 1385Battle of Valverde.