Altendorf (Thirty Years' War).
Fought August 24, 1632, between Gustavus Adolphus, with 40,000 Swedes and Germans, and the Imperialists, of about equal numbers, under Wallenstein. Wallenstein was very strongly posted on the hill and in the ruined castle of the Altenwald, and after a day spent in fruitless assaults, the King was forced to retire, having lost about 2,300 in killed and wounded. The defenders admitted a loss of 70 officers and 2,000 men killed, besides wounded and prisoners.
Alto Pascio (Guelfs and Ghibellines).
Fought 1325, between the Ghibellines under Castruccio Castracane of Lucca, and the Florentine Guelfs. The Florentines were defeated with heavy loss, among the trophies taken by Castracane being the carroccio of Florence.
Amakusa (Revolt of the Christians).
In 1638, the castle of Amakusa, held by 30,000 rebels under Masada Shiro, was captured after very hard fighting by the troops of the Shôgun, under Matsudaira Nobutsuna. The defenders set fire to the castle, and perished to the last man, either in the flames or by the sword.
Amalinde (Kaffir Wars).
Fought 1818 between the Gaikas and the forces of Ndlambi, in which the former were utterly routed.
Amatola Mountain (Kaffir Wars).
Fought 1846, between the Kaffirs under Sandilli, and the British and Cape troops under Colonels Campbell and Somerset. Sandilli was totally defeated, but, rallying his forces, he made a successful attack on the British baggage train, the loss of which forced them to retire.