, showing French troops in the hilltops attacking the much larger British force in the valley It is known that the area of Bombarral was occupied during the geological period, and there exist vestiges of human settlement throughout the municipality, including pre-historic remnants in
Gruta Nova,
Lapa do Suão and the
Neolithic fortifications of
Columbeira and the
Castro de São Mamede. Most documented references to Bombarral begin in the 14th century, when the area was under the dominion of the
Monastery of Alcobaça. With the creation of Portugal, King
Afonso Henriques donated the lands to
Cistercian monks, around 1153. Before, the
Battle of Aljubarrota King
John of Portugal stayed in Bombarral with his Knight, Luís Henriques, in the strong-house that would later be converted into the municipality's council hall. In the 18th century it was recognized as
"Queens lands", and part of the municipality of
Cadaval until 1852. During the
Peninsular War, 15000 Anglo-Portuguese troops confronted a much smaller army of French infantry and cavalry (5000 total) in
Roliça in the first engagement by British forces. The
Battle of Roliça, along the northern frontier with Óbidos, was a confrontation between English General
Arthur Wellesley and French General
Henri François, Comte Delaborde, who were sent by General
Jean-Andoche Junot, to harass and hold British forces until a much larger force could confront the English. The valleys and gullies of Roliça allowed the small French contingent to confront the much larger British force, yet they were unable to defeat them. Although successful, Wellesley did not press the fleeing French troops (who withdrew to Montachique near Torres Vedras), and instead went to support the landing of 4000 troops arriving from England along the coast. The railway connecting Bombarral to
Lisbon and
Leiria came in 1887, starting a period of accelerated economic development. Until 1914, Bombarral was a parish of the municipality of neighbouring
Óbidos. The present-day municipality was created that year. ==Geography==