The Final Blow – The Pursuit and…

The Final Blow – The Pursuit and Collapse of the Franco-Spanish Army (October–November 1762)

By mid-October 1762, the Franco-Spanish army, trapped in front of Abrantes, was starving, exhausted, and demoralized. Their supply lines were shattered, their troops were deserting, and the Anglo-Portuguese forces remained well-fed and entrenched.

Recognizing that total collapse was imminent, Count Wilhelm von Schaumburg-Lippe devised a bold maneuver to complete the enemy’s defeat.

Lippe’s Masterstroke – A Psychological Encirclement

To push the invaders into full retreat, Lippe exploited their worsening morale by launching a brilliant deception campaign:

• General Townshend’s Portuguese force was ordered to maneuver toward the enemy’s rear.
• At the same time, rumors were deliberately spread that Townshend’s detachment was part of a massive British force of 20,000 newly landed troops.

The psychological effect was immediate and devastating:

• The already starving and exhausted Bourbon forces panicked, fearing they would be completely encircled.
• From October 15 onward, the invaders began a full-scale withdrawal toward Castelo Branco, where they attempted to regroup closer to the Spanish border.
• The new Spanish headquarters was hastily established there, marking the effective end of their offensive campaign.

The Anglo-Portuguese Army Goes on the Offensive

Now that the Bourbon army was in retreat, the Anglo-Portuguese forces finally abandoned their defensive positions and launched a full-scale counteroffensive.

• The retreating enemy forces were relentlessly pursued, their rear guard constantly harassed.
• Many Spanish and French soldiers were captured in the chaotic withdrawal.
• Almost all the towns and fortresses previously taken by Spain were retaken by the Portuguese, undoing months of Bourbon gains in just weeks.

The Collapse of Spanish Hopes

The entire Spanish campaign, which had once inspired such confidence in Madrid, had completely unraveled.

• Charles III’s hopes of conquering Portugal had evaporated, as nearly every territorial gain had been reversed.
• The Franco-Spanish army, which had once numbered over 42,000 men, was now shattered, with thousands dead, captured, or starving.
• The war had reached its final stage, and Spain and France were now forced to seek a diplomatic exit.

Conclusion – The End of the Invasion

Through deception, mobility, and relentless pressure, Lippe and the Anglo-Portuguese army had transformed the war from a defensive struggle into a decisive rout of the invading forces.

The Spanish dream of taking Lisbon had turned into a nightmare, and by November 1762, their entire military effort had collapsed. The war was now effectively over, with Portugal and Britain emerging victorious.