Cuanza River Campaign

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Cuanza River Campaign

Part of Colonization of Angola

Cuanza River
| Date| May 1580 – ??

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Location|

Along the Cuanza River, Angola

Result|  Inconclusive
Belligerents

Kingdom of Portugal

Supported by:

* Kingdom of Kongo

|  Kingdom of Ndongo
Ambundu
Commanders and leaders
Paulo Dias de Novais
Baltasar Barreira|  Ngola
Strength
290-300 soldiers
2 galleys
1 caravel
Several smaller vessels|  Unknown
Casualties and losses
Two-thirds of the 300 soldiers killed by disease[1]|  Many thousands killed[1]

The Cuanza River Campaign was a military campaign between the Kingdom of Portugal, supported by the Kingdom of Kongo, and the Kingdom of Ndongo and the Ambundu.

## Background

[edit]

Previously, Paulo Dias de Novais had miraculously won a siege in Anzele led by the Ngola forces, composed of 12,000 men. After the siege, the Ngola warriors sought to make peace with the governor, which he declined, as he already planned to attack them again with a larger force, with the support of the king of Congo.[1]

In May 1580, Paulo Dias de Novais organized an expedition along the Cuanza River, deploying 290-300 soldiers, along with two small ships and several smaller vessels. The purpose was to achieve a quick conquest that would open the way to the supposed Cambambe mines.[1]

## Campaign

[edit]

Despite initial successes, soon Paulo Dias de Novais faced problems such as diseases, harsh weather, and resistance from local leaders. Father Barreira in Luanda, upon learning of the governor's difficulties, set out on his way to the capital of the Kongo on September 24, 1580, to remind the king's promise and to hasten the arrival of his help.[1]

Meanwhile, due to lack of supplies, the soldiers began to loot everything they found, leaving everyone frightened by the atrocities they were committing. This created fear and some sobas came to ally themselves with the Portuguese, one of them was Mushima Quitangombe. And they advanced with the Cambambe mines as their goal. On November 1, 1580, they arrived near Cambambe. The Portuguese troops camped in Mocumbe for two years, during which two-thirds of the 300 soldiers died, largely due to illness.[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Leitão, José. "A Missão no Reino de Angola" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-01-31. Retrieved 2020-12-07.

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