Battle of Ladeira da Velha

The Battle of Ladeira da Velha was fought on August 3, 1831, between Portuguese Liberal and Miguelite forces on São Miguel Island in the Azores, as part of the Portuguese civil war. It ended in a Liberal victory, which put the island and the rest of the Archipelago under Liberal control.

Commemorative plate near Achadinha.

The Battle

Since the Battle of Praia da Vitória in 1829, Terceira Island in the Azores was under control of the Liberal forces. The Miguelites still maintained control over São Miguel Island and the Portuguese mainland.
On August 1, a liberal force under command of the Count of Vila Flor embarked on the northern coast of São Miguel, near the parish of Achadinha.

Two days later a battle was fought at Ladeira da Velha near Porto Formoso, between the invading Liberal army and troops loyal to King Miguel. The battle ended in a victory for the Liberals, which enabled them to firmly establish their control over the entire Azores Archipelago. They used the islands as a base to invade the Portuguese Mainland the next year, with the Landing at Mindelo on 8 July 1832.

Sources

• Acção da Ladeira da Velha
• A Batalha da Ladeira da Velha (S.Miguel - Azores).