The Battle of Asseiceira, fought on 16 May, 1834, was the last and decisive engagement of the

Portuguese Civil War The Liberal Wars (), also known as the Portuguese Civil War (), the War of the Two Brothers () or Miguelite War (), was a war between liberal constitutionalists and conservative absolutists in Portugal over royal succession that lasted from 1 ...

, or "War of the Two Brothers", between Dom Pedro, ex-Emperor of

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

(fighting to restore his daughter Dona Maria da Glória as rightful Queen of Portugal) and the usurper Dom Miguel. Dom Miguel's rebel forces were defeated. Miguel's army, under the command of General Guedes, had been retreating eastward before the advance of Dom Pedro's forces, and had camped in a strong position on the Heights of

Asseiceira Asseiceira is a civil parish (''Freguesia'') in the municipality of Tomar, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 2,943,

, a system of hills and valleys about four miles from

Tomar Tomar (), also known in English as Thomar (the ancient name of Tomar), is a city and a municipality in the Santarém district of Portugal. The town proper has a population of about 20,000. The municipality population in 2011 was 40,677, in an a ...

. Miguel himself was at Santarém and was not involved in the ensuing battle. Pedro's general, the

Duke of Terceira The title duke of Terceira, ''de juro e herdade'' (meaning "forever granted") was created by decree of King Pedro I of Brazil, Pedro IV of Portugal, on 8 November 1832. António José de Souza Manoel de Menezes Severim de Noronha, 7th Count of Vila ...

, advanced from Tomar on the morning of the 16th and attacked their position in three columns commanded by Colonels Queirós, Nepomuceno and

Vasconcelos Vasconcelos (also Vasconcellos) is a Portuguese surname. Today it can be found in Portugal, Brazil, and elsewhere in the Portuguese-speaking world. People * Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos (1837–1880), Portuguese Roman Catholic Archbishop of G ...

. The Miguelite forces attempted to repel them with artillery bombardment and cavalry charges but the loyalist forces persisted in their attacks and eventually a charge by their own cavalry carried the heights. Many of the enemy were killed or wounded, their guns captured, and some 1400 men taken prisoner. The remainder fled towards

Golegã Golegã () is a town and municipality in Santarém District, Portugal. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 5,913,including the parish Pombalinho, that changed from the municipality of Santarém to Golegã in 2013 in an area of 84.32&nb ...

, which was occupied by Terceira the following day. Dom Pedro (already ill with the sickness that would kill him shortly after his final victory) arrived there on the 18th from

Cartaxo Cartaxo () is a municipality in the district of Santarém in continental Portugal. The population in 2011 was 24,462, in an area of 158.17 km². The urbanized centre of Cartaxo had a population of 9,507 in 2001. History In written and ora ...

. Miguel rallied his forces at

Évora Évora ( , ) is a city and a municipality in Portugal. It has 53,591 inhabitants (2021), in an area of 1307.08 km2. It is the historic capital of the Alentejo and serves as the seat of the Évora District. Due to its well-preserved old ...

, but his officers were unwilling to risk a final battle after nearly two years of warfare, and he was presently induced to seek terms of capitulation. The war would finally end ten days later with the signing of the

Concession of Evoramonte The Concession of Evoramonte, also known as the Convention of Evoramonte,Smith, p. 398 was a document signed on 26 May 1834, in Evoramonte, in Alentejo, between the Constitutionalists and the Miguelites, that ended the period of civil war (1828� ...

, where Dom Miguel surrendered and abandoned his claim to the Portuguese throne, being also banished from the kingdom.

Sources

*''An Account of the War in Portugal, between Dom Pedro and Dom Miguel'' by Admiral Charles Napier (London, 1836); the battle is described on pp. 199–203.

Asseiceira Asseiceira is a civil parish (''Freguesia'') in the municipality of Tomar, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 2,943,

1834 in Portugal

Asseiceira Asseiceira is a civil parish (''Freguesia'') in the municipality of Tomar, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 2,943,

May 1834 events {{Portugal-battle-stub