Evolution of the Portuguese Empire

Overview of the possessions of the Portuguese Empire
Cantino planisphere, 1502

This article is a comprehensive list of all the actual possessions of the Portuguese Empire.[1][2][3][4]

Europe

Portuguese founded factories in various places in Europe, with a purely commerce-focused strategy, different from the other continents.

  • Antwerp – factory [5]
  • Bruges – factory[5]
  • Chios – factory (founded in 1499 – ?)[6]
  • Venice – factory (c. 1508)[7]

Africa

Portuguese presence in Africa started in 1415 with the conquest of Ceuta and is generally viewed as ending in 1975, with the independence of its later colonies, although the present autonomous region of Madeira is located in the African Plate, some 650 km (360 mi) off the North African coast, Madeira belongs and has always belonged ethnically, culturally, economically and politically to Europe, some 955 km (583 mi) from the European mainland.[8]

  • Angola/Portuguese West Africa: colony (1575–1589); crown colony (1589–1951); overseas province (1951–1971); state (1971–1975). Independence in 1975.
  • Arguin/Arguim: (1455–1633)
  • Cabinda: protectorate (1883–1887); Congo district (1887–1921); intendancy subordinate to Maquela (1921–1922); dependency of Zaire district (1922–1930); Intendacy of Zaire and Cabinda (1930–1932); intendancy under Portuguese Angola (1932–1934); dependency under Angola (1934–1945); restored as District (1946–1975). Controlled by Frente Nacional para a Libertação de Angola (National Liberation Front of Angola) as part of independent Angola in 1975. Declared Cabinda a republic in 1975, but not recognized by Portugal nor Angola.
  • Cabo Verde/Cape Verde: settlements (1462–1495); dominion of crown colonies (1495–1587); crown colony (1587–1951); overseas province (1951–1974); autonomous republic (1974–1975). Independence in 1975.
From Cantino planisphere of 1502.
  • Benin (1485–1897): Factory. City destroyed by the British in 1897.[citation needed]
  • Boma: Factory. [citation needed]
  • Fort Mocusso (1909–1912): Military fort constructed in German South-West Africa. Abandoned and relocated in 1912.
  • Portuguese Gold Coast: (1482–1642), conquered by the Dutch in 1642.
  • Porto Loko: Port established by Portuguese traders. Driven out by native inhabitants.[citation needed]
  • Gorée (1444–1588): Trading post. Lost to the Dutch. Briefly reconquered in 1629.[citation needed]
  • Gwato: Trading post.
  • Guiné Portuguesa/Portuguese Guinea: colony (1879–1951); overseas province (1951–1974). Unilateral independence declared in 1973, recognized by Portugal in 1974.
    • Cacheu: captaincy (1640–1879). United with Bissau in 1879.
    • Bissau: settlement under Cacheu (1687–1696); captaincy (1696–1707); abandoned (1707–1753); separate colony under Cape Verde (1753–1879). United with Cacheu in 1879.
  • Lagos (1472–1862): Most popular Portuguese slave port. Slave trade declines in the early 19th century. Dirven out in 1862.[citation needed]
  • Lamu (1506–1652): Subjugated in 1506. Driven out by native Inhabitants.
  • Loango (1500–1867): Slave port.
  • Madagascar (1508–1553): Settlement at Matatana. Abandoned in 1553
  • Madeira: possession (1418–1420); colony (1420–1580); crown colony (1580–1834); autonomous district (1834–1976). Made an autonomous region in 1976.
  • Mascarene Islands: fortified post (1498–1540)[citation needed]
  • Malindi: occupation (1500–1630)
  • Mombaça/Mombasa: occupation (1593–1638); colony subordinate to Goa (1638–1698; 1728–1729). Under Omani sovereignty in 1729.
  • Matadi: Trading post.[citation needed]
  • Morocco enclaves
    • Aguz/Souira Guedima (1506–1525)
    • Alcácer Ceguer/El Qsar es Seghir (1458–1550)
    • Arzila/Asilah (1471–1550; 1577–1589). Restored to Morocco in 1589.
    • Azamor/Azemmour (1513–1541). City restored to Morocco in 1541.
    • Ceuta: possession (1415–1640). Ceded to Spain in 1668.
    • Mazagan/El Jadida (1485–1550); possession (1506–1769). Incorporation into Morocco in 1769.
    • Mogador/Essaouira (1506–1510)
    • Safim/Safi (1488–1541)
    • Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gué/Agadir (1505–1541)
    • São João da Mamora/Mehdya (1515–1550)
    • Tangier: possession (1471–1662). Ceded to England in 1662.
  • Moçambique/Portuguese East Africa: possession (1498–1501); subordinate to Goa (1501–1569); captaincy-general (1569–1609); colony subordinate to Goa (1609–1752); colony (1752–1951); overseas province (1951–1971); state (1971–1974); local transitional administration (1974–1975). Independence in 1975.
  • Ouadane (1487)
  • Quíloa (1505–1512)
  • Rokupr: possession (it was under the Portuguese c. 1778)[9]
  • Santo António do Zaire/Soyo (1482–1670): Main economic center between the Portuguese and the Kongo Kingdom. Portuguese driven out in 1670.
  • São Tomé and Príncipe/São Tomé e Príncipe: crown colony (1753–1951); overseas province (1951–1971); local administration (1971–1975). Independence in 1975.
    • São Tomé: possession (1470–1485); colony (1485–1522); crown colony (1522–1641); administration under Dutch occupation (1641–1648). French occupation in 1648.
    • Príncipe: colony (1471–1753). United with São Tomé in 1753.
  • Tanga (1500–1700): Lost to Oman in 1700.[citation needed]
  • Zanzibar and Pemba Island possession (1503–1698). Lost to Oman in 1698.
  • Ziguinchor: possession (1645–1888). Ceded to France in 1888.

Asia-Pacific

India was reached by the Portuguese in 1498 by Vasco da Gama. Macau was the last possession in Asia and was handed over to the People's Republic of China in 1999.

  • Aden: Attempted conquest by Albuquerque (1513) and Albergaria (1516). Occupied for a few months in 1547–1548 before being recaptured by Piri Reis[10]
  • Bahrain: possession (1521–1602). Driven out by a native revolt and occupied by Persian troops.
  • Basra (1550–1668): Portuguese vassal (1550–1595). Occupation (1595–1624). Integral part of the Portuguese Empire (1624–1668). Lost to the Ottomans.
  • Bushehr (1506–1622): Lost to the Safavids.
  • Comorão/Bandar Abbas: possession (1506–1615). Conquered by Persian forces.
  • Chabahar (1508–1621): Lost to the British.[citation needed]
  • Ceylon: colony (1597–1658). Dutch took control in 1656, Jaffna taken in 1658.
  • Chinese concessions: Territories gained through the Unequal Treaties of the 19th and 20th century.
  • Portuguese East Indies (1511–1975/2002). Colonial dependency of Goa (1522–1844); Subordinated to Macao (1844–1850); Independent colony (1850–1851); Subordinated to Macao (1851–1856); Subordinated to Goa (1856–1863); Overseas province (1863–1866); Subordinate to Macao (1866–1896); Independent colony (1896–1950); Overseas province (1950–1975); Unilateral Independence and Indonesian Occupation (1975–1999); UN Administration (1999–2002).
    • Calapa (1522–1619): Port granted to the Portuguese by the Hindu Sunda Kingdom in return for military support against their Muslim neighbors. Lost to the Dutch.[citation needed]
    • Keling Fort (1613–1645): Destroyed by the Dutch.[citation needed]
    • Malacca: settlement (1511–1641); lost to the Dutch.
    • Maluku Islands
      • Amboina/Ambon: settlement (1576–1605).
      • Bacan: Trading post (1513–1575). Conquered by Ternate.
      • Ternate: settlement (1522–1575). Portuguese forced out by the Sultan of Ternate.
      • Tidore: colony (1578–1605). Seized by Dutch in 1605.
    • Celebes: Possessions on the island between 1512 and 1658.
      • Makassar (1512–1665); lost to the Dutch.
      • Manado (15??–1658): lost to the Dutch.[citation needed]
      • Otanaha Fortress (1522–15??): Driven out by native inhabitants.[citation needed]
    • Muar Fortress (1604–1641): Built to defend Malacca against Dutch and Acehnese attacks. Seized by the Dutch after the loss of Malacca.
    • Pacem (1521–1524): Occupied, then quickly abandoned.
    • Timor: claimed and partially possessed from 1520 to 1640.
      • Cupão/Kupang: Trading post. Taken by the Dutch in 1613
      • Flores Island: possession (16th–19th century). Sold the island to the Dutch East Indies.
        • Solor: possession (1520–1636).
      • West Timor: part of Timor lost to the Dutch in 1640.
      • Portuguese Timor: colony subordinate to Portuguese India (1642–1844); subordinate to Macau (1844–1896); separate colony (1896–1951); overseas territory (1951–1975); republic and unilateral independence proclaimed, annexed by Indonesia (1975–1999, UN recognition as Portuguese territory). UN administration from 1999 until independence in 2002.[11]
        • Ilha de Ataúro (1859–1975): Granted to the Portuguese by the Dutch in 1859.
  • Faifo/Hội An: Jesuit residency.
  • Japanese Voyages (1550–1639): Portuguese arrive and begin to settle in 1543. Officially established by the government in Goa in 1550. Ended in 1639 by decree of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
    • Deshima (1570–1639): Constructed by the Portuguese. Forced out by the Shōgun and granted to the Dutch in 1641.
    • Fukuda (1565–1571): Portuguese invited into the port in 1565. Abandoned in 1571 due to bad weather conditions.
    • Funai/Ōita (16th century): Port of call.
    • Hirado (1543–1571): Abandoned in favor of Nagasaki.
    • Kagoshima (1543–1639): center of Jesuit activity. Anti-Christian bans forced out the Jesuits in 1639.
    • Nagasáqui/Nagasaki (1543–1639): Unofficial settlement (1543–1570). Leased territory (1570–1580). Administrative control (1580–1587). Trading post and settlement (1587–1639). Pottuguese forced out as a part of the Shōgun's policy of Sakoku.
    • Vocoxiura/Yokoseura (1562–1571): Initial base for Jesuit activities in Japan. Abandoned in favor of Nagasaki.
  • Liampó/Ningbo (1522–1548): Heavy Portuguese presence in the city itself and settlement in nearby Shuangyu. Settlement destroyed by Ming authorities in 1548 as a part of an anti-piracy campaign. [citation needed]
  • Maçuá/Massawa (1513–1557). Driven out by the Ottomans. [citation needed]
  • Maldives: possession (1518–1521, 1558–1573)
From an anonymous atlas c.1550

Latin America

From Vaz Dourado atlas of c. 1576

Brazil was explored and claimed in 1500, and become independent in 1822. Unlike the Spanish, the Portuguese did not divide their possession in South America in several vice-royalties.

  • Barbados: Possession known as Os Barbados, discovered by Pedro Campos between 1532 and 1536. The only Caribbean possession the Portuguese ever held, until Portugal abandoned the island in 1620 to continue exploring nearby Brazil.
  • Brazil: possession known as Ilha de Santa Cruz, later Terra de Vera Cruz (1500–1530); colony (1530–1714); vice-kingdom (1714–1815); kingdom united with the Kingdom of Portugal (1815–1822), independence in 1822.
  • Cisplatina (Uruguay): occupation (1808–1822). Captaincy in 1817 (of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves). Adhered as a province of the new Empire of Brazil in 1822. Became independent 1827, changing its name to Uruguay.
  • French Guiana: occupation (1809–1817). Restored to France in 1817.
  • Nova Colónia do Sacramento: colony in present Uruguay (1680; 1683–1705; 1715–1777). Ceded to the Spanish Empire in 1777.

North Atlantic and Northern America

From Reinel-Lopo Homem Atlantic chart of 1519.

The Azores were discovered early in the Discovery Ages. Labrador and Corte-Real brothers later explored and claimed Greenland and eastern modern Canada from 1499 to 1502.

  • Azores: colonies (1427–1766); captaincy-general (1766–1831); autonomous districts of Angra do Heroismo, Horta and Ponta Delgada (1831–1976). Made an autonomous region in 1976.
  • Greenland: (1499/1500–?) possession claimed by João Fernandes Labrador in 1499 or 1500. Seen as claimed in the Cantino planisphere of 1502, Reinel-Lopo Homem chart of 1519 and Reinel map of 1535.
  • Land of the Corte-Real: (1501–?) claimed after the voyages of the Corte-Real brothers. Over the 16th century, several larger, permanant settlements were established, but many more seasonal trading posts and fishing villages were established at the same time and beyond.

See also

  • History portal
  • flagPortugal portal

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Portuguese Empire.
  1. ^ A. J. R. Russell-Wood, The Portuguese empire, 1415–1808: a world on the move (JHU Press, 1998).
  2. ^ W. G. Clarence-Smith, The Third Portuguese Empire, 1825–1975: a study in economic imperialism (Manchester University Press, 1985).
  3. ^ Timothy J. Coates, "The Early Modern Portuguese empire: A commentary on recent studies." Sixteenth Century Journal 37.1 (2006): 83–90 online.
  4. ^ Norrie MacQueen, The Decolonization of Portuguese Africa: Metropolitan Revolution and the Dissolution of Empire (1997).
  5. ^ a b Montenegro, António (2001). "A feitoria portuguesa na Flandres e Manuel Cirne". Público. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  6. ^ Lopes, Paulo (2019). Portugal e a Europa nos séculos XV e XVI: Olhares, Relações, Identidade(s) (in Portuguese). Lisbon: Instituto de Estudos Medievais (IEM). p. 353. ISBN 978-989-99567-3-5.
  7. ^ Rau, Virgínia (1966). Feitores e feitorias, "instrumentos" do comércio internacional português no século XVI: comunicação apresentada, em francês, no 3o. Congresso Internacional de História Económica que se realizou em Munique, de 25 a 27 de agosto de 1965 (in Portuguese). Edições Brotéria. p. 10.
  8. ^ Filipe Ribeiro De Meneses and Robert McNamara, eds. The White Redoubt, the Great Powers and the Struggle for Southern Africa, 1960–1980 (Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2017.)
  9. ^ Hair, P.E.H. (2000). "Franciscan Missionaries and the 1752 «Donation of Sierra Leone»". Journal of Religion in Africa. 30 (4): 408–432. doi:10.2307/1581582. JSTOR 1581582 – via JSTOR.
  10. ^ F. M. Hunter, An Account of the British Settlement of Aden in Arabia, Trübner & Co., London, 1877, p. 162–163.
  11. ^ James Cotton, East Timor, Australia and regional order: intervention and its aftermath in Southeast Asia. (Routledge, 2004).

Further reading

  • Cotton, James. East Timor, Australia and regional order: intervention and its aftermath in Southeast Asia (Routledge, 2004).
  • De Meneses, Filipe Ribeiro, and Robert McNamara, eds. The White Redoubt, the Great Powers and the Struggle for Southern Africa, 1960–1980 (Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2017).
  • James, W. Martin. Historical dictionary of Angola (Rowman & Littlefield, 2018).
  • Lloyd-Jones, Stewart, and António Costa Pinto, eds. The last Empire: thirty years of Portuguese decolonization (Intellect Books, 2003).
  • MacQueen, Norrie. The Decolonization of Portuguese Africa: Metropolitan Revolution and the Dissolution of Empire (1997).
  • MacQueen, Norrie. "Belated Decolonization and UN Politics against the Backdrop of the Cold War: Portugal, Britain, and Guinea-Bissau's Proclamation of Independence, 1973–1974." Journal of Cold War Studies 8.4 (2006): 29–56.
  • Springhall, John. Decolonization since 1945: the collapse of European overseas empires (Palgrave Macmillan, 2001).
  • v
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North Africa

15th century

1415–1640 Ceuta
1458–1550 Alcácer Ceguer (El Qsar es Seghir)
1471–1550 Arzila (Asilah)
1471–1662 Tangier
1485–1550 Mazagan (El Jadida)
1487–16th century Ouadane
1488–1541 Safim (Safi)
1489 Graciosa

16th century

1505–1541 Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gué (Agadir)
1506–1525 Mogador (Essaouira)
1506–1525 Aguz (Souira Guedima)
1506–1769 Mazagan (El Jadida)
1513–1541 Azamor (Azemmour)
1515–1541 São João da Mamora (Mehdya)
1577–1589 Arzila (Asilah)

Anachronous map of the Portuguese Empire (1415-1999)
Sub-Saharan Africa

15th century

1455–1633 Arguim
1462–1975 Cape Verde
1470–1975 São Tomé1
1471–1975 Príncipe1
1474–1778 Annobón
1478–1778 Fernando Poo (Bioko)
1482–1637 Elmina (São Jorge da Mina)
1482–1642 Portuguese Gold Coast
1498–1540 Mascarene Islands

16th century

1500–1630 Malindi
1501–1975 Portuguese Mozambique
1502–1659 Saint Helena
1503–1698 Zanzibar
1505–1512 Quíloa (Kilwa)
1506–1511 Socotra
1508–15472 Madagascar3
1557–1578 Accra
1575–1975 Portuguese Angola
1588–1974 Cacheu4
1593–1698 Mombassa (Mombasa)

17th century

1645–1888 Ziguinchor
1680–1961 São João Baptista de Ajudá, Benin
1687–1974 Bissau4

18th century

1728–1729 Mombassa (Mombasa)
1753–1975 Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe

19th century

1879–1974 Portuguese Guinea
1885–1974 Portuguese Congo5

Middle East [Persian Gulf]

16th century

1506–1615 Gamru (Bandar Abbas)
1507–1643 Sohar
1515–1622 Hormuz (Ormus)
1515–1648 Quriyat
1515–? Qalhat
1515–1650 Muscat
1515?–? Barka
1515–1633? Julfar (Ras al-Khaimah)
1521–1602 Bahrain (Muharraq • Manama)
1521–1529? Qatif
1521?–1551? Tarut Island
1550–1551 Qatif
1588–1648 Matrah

17th century

1620–? Khor Fakkan
1621?–? As Sib
1621–1622 Qeshm
1623–? Khasab
1623–? Libedia
1624–? Kalba
1624–? Madha
1624–1648 Dibba Al-Hisn
1624?–? Bandar-e Kong

South Asia

15th century

1498–1545
Laccadive Islands
(Lakshadweep)

16th century
Portuguese India

 • 1500–1663 Cochim (Kochi)
 • 1501–1663 Cannanore (Kannur)
 • 1502–1658
 1659–1661
Quilon
(Coulão / Kollam)
 • 1502–1661 Pallipuram (Cochin de Cima)
 • 1507–1657 Negapatam (Nagapatnam)
 • 1510–1961 Goa
 • 1512–1525
 1750
Calicut
(Kozhikode)
 • 1518–1619 Portuguese Paliacate outpost (Pulicat)
 • 1521–1740 Chaul
  (Portuguese India)
 • 1523–1662 Mylapore
 • 1528–1666
Chittagong
(Porto Grande De Bengala)
 • 1531–1571 Chaul
 • 1531–1571 Chalé
 • 1534–1601 Salsette Island
 • 1534–1661 Bombay (Mumbai)
 • 1535 Ponnani
 • 1535–1739 Baçaím (Vasai-Virar)
 • 1536–1662 Cranganore (Kodungallur)
 • 1540–1612 Surat
 • 1548–1658 Tuticorin (Thoothukudi)
 • 1559–1961 Daman and Diu
 • 1568–1659 Mangalore
  (Portuguese India)
 • 1579–1632Hugli
 • 1598–1610Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam)
1518–1521 Maldives
1518–1658 Portuguese Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
1558–1573 Maldives

17th century
Portuguese India

 • 1687–1749 Mylapore

18th century
Portuguese India

 • 1779–1954 Dadra and Nagar Haveli

East Asia and Oceania

16th century

1511–1641 Portuguese Malacca [Malaysia]
1512–1621 Maluku [Indonesia]
 • 1522–1575  Ternate
 • 1576–1605  Ambon
 • 1578–1650  Tidore
1512–1665 Makassar [Indonesia]
1515–1859 Larantuka [Indonesia]
1557–1999 Macau [China]
1580–1586 Nagasaki [Japan]

17th century

1642–1975 Portuguese Timor (East Timor)1

19th century
Portuguese Macau

 • 1864–1999 Coloane
 • 1851–1999 Taipa
 • 1890–1999 Ilha Verde

20th century
Portuguese Macau

 • 1938–1941 Lapa and Montanha (Hengqin)

  • 1 1975 is the year of East Timor's Declaration of Independence and subsequent invasion by Indonesia. In 2002, East Timor's independence was fully recognized.
North America & North Atlantic

15th century [Atlantic islands]

1420 Madeira
1432 Azores

16th century [Canada]

1500–1579? Terra Nova (Newfoundland)
1500–1579? Labrador
1516–1579? Nova Scotia

South America & Caribbean

16th century

1500–1822 Brazil
 • 1534–1549  Captaincy Colonies of Brazil
 • 1549–1572  Brazil
 • 1572–1578  Bahia
 • 1572–1578  Rio de Janeiro
 • 1578–1607  Brazil
 • 1621–1815  Brazil
1536–1620 Barbados

17th century

1621–1751 Maranhão
1680–1777 Nova Colónia do Sacramento

18th century

1751–1772 Grão-Pará and Maranhão
1772–1775 Grão-Pará and Rio Negro
1772–1775 Maranhão and Piauí

19th century

1808–1822 Cisplatina (Uruguay)
1809–1817 Portuguese Guiana (Amapá)
1822 Upper Peru (Bolivia)

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