The Portuguese in the Age of Discovery c.1340–1665

by Nicolle, David; Embleton, Gerry

• ISBN13: 9781849088480
• ISBN10: 1849088489
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-11-20
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

From humble beginnings, in the course of three centuries the Portuguese built the world's first truly global empire, stretching from modern Brazil to sub-Saharan Africa and from India to the East Indies (Indonesia). Portugal had established its present-day borders by 1300 and the following century saw extensive warfare that confirmed Portugal's independence and allowed it to aspire to maritime expansion, sponsored by monarchs such as Prince Henry the Navigator. Intent on finding a sea route to the source of the lucrative spice trade, the Portuguese discovered a route down Africa's western coast, employing the innovative caravel, a vessel that could be sailed closer to the wind than any other in use at the time. In 1488 Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope and ten years later Vasco da Gama reached India. In 1500 Pedro Álvares Cabral discovered Brazil and the Portuguese began to exploit the fabulous natural wealth of the Americas. Victory over the Mamluks at the Battle of Diu (1509) handed the Portuguese control over the Indian Ocean and allowed them to capture a succession of key ports such as Ceylon, Goa and Malacca. Portuguese sailors continued to explore the coasts and islands of East Asia, and by 1580 a network of outposts linked Lisbon to a vast trading empire that stretched as far as Japan. The period closed with Portugal and its empire passing to Spanish control for 60 years from 1580. During this nearly 300-year period, the Portuguese fought alongside other Iberian forces against the Moors of Andalusia; with English help successfully repelled a Castilian invasion (1385); and fought the Moors in Morocco, Africans, the Ottoman Turks, and the Spanish in colonial competition. The colourful and exotic Portuguese forces that prevailed in these battles on land and sea are the subject of this book.

Author Biography

David Nicolle, born in 1944, worked in the BBC's Arabic service for a number of years before gaining an MA from the School of Oriental end African Studies, London, and a doctorate from Edinburgh University. He has written numerous books and articles on medieval and Islamic warfare, and has been a prolific author of Osprey titles for many years. Gerry Embleton has been a (coding illustrator and researcher of historical costume since the 1970s, and has Illustrated and written Osprey titles on a wide range of subjects over more than 30 years. He is an internationally respected authority on 15th and 18th century costumes In particular. He lives in Switzerland, where since 1988 he has also become well known for designing and creating life-size historical figures for museums. His son SAM EMBLETON b also an illustrator, and this is their twelfth joint project for Osprey.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 3
Portugal, Spain and the 13th-century Reconquista
the Islamic maritime legacy
the 14th-century English alliance
African and Muslim trading networks
15th-century circumnavigation of Africa and trade with the Indies
16th-century dominance
defeat in Morocco
17th-century Spanish rule
the Dutch wars
Chronology	p. 6
Portuguese Armies Before the Hundred Years' War	p. 10
A new aristocracy
English and French influences
reforms of Fernando I
centralization under the Aviz dynasty
Organization & Recruitment, c.1400-1560	p. 12
From feudal to professional armies
the Military Orders
the fidalgos
crossbowmen
conscription for the colonies
maritime recruitment
weak strength and organization of colonial garrisons
Mercenaries & Colonial Forces	p. 17
Renegades
foreign volunteers
enlisted prisoners
colonial and native troops
Motivation, Training & Morale	p. 20
Slaving
the crusading tradition
missionaries
prestige
wealth
Training
Acclimatization
eagerness for combat
Strategy & Tactics	p. 33
'Armed trading'
the networks of coastal enclaves and forts
Tactics: 'amphibious' infantry and naval gunfire support
reinforcement expeditions
Warships, Equipment & Weapons	p. 37
Galleys, caravels and carracks
crews and naval guns
the ordeal of ocean voyages
Arms and armour
Crossbows
Firearms
artillery
Select Bibliography	p. 42
Plate Commentaries	p. 44
Index	p. 48
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