The Battle of Aljubarrota: Underdog Victory

A tiny army, outnumbered five to one, completely crushed a massive invading

force and forged a nation. This is the insane true story of the Battle of Aljubarrota

in 1385. The kingdom of Castile rolled into Portugal with 31,000 soldiers, expecting an easy

conquest. The Portuguese, with just 6,600 troops, weren't having it.

Led by the brilliant Nuno Álvares Pereira, they picked their ground on a small hill.

They dug trenches, scattered spikes, and waited. The massive Castilian army,

full of arrogant French knights, charged straight into a death trap. Funneled into a

narrow space, they were shredded by English longbows and Portuguese spears. The victory was