The Battle of Montijo, occurred on May 26th, 1644, was the first great battle of the Portuguese Restoration (1640-1668), and was conquered by both opponents. The Castilian commanders declared their victory soon after the end of combat; there was also the publishing of reports, poems, and chronicles about the event. The Portuguese also declared themselves as the winners of the same battle, publishing tracts and apologias and introducing their perspective on the battle's narrative into History works. The comparison between Portuguese and Castilian texts, as well as the circumstances of their publication, points to the political character of the dispute for victory in a finished battle. It also identifies the effort to win the battle in seventeenth-century public opinion and diplomacy.
Portuguese Restoration; Montijo Battle; press; war relations; public opinion.