Battle of Praia Bay, 1830 The Battle of Praia Bay was fought on August 11, 1829, between Portuguese loyalists and a Miguelite fleet. The Miguelites attempted to disembark troops on Terceira island but were defeated by the loyalist troops who controlled a dozen small forts and artillery batterys along five kilometers of the coast. The defeat of the absolutists in this battle was decisive for the affirmation and posterior victory of the liberal ideas in Portugal.