{"slug": "portuguese-empire", "label": "Portuguese Empire", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Empire", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200464", "qid": "Q200464", "description": "global empire centered in Portugal (1415–1999)", "entries": 37, "years": 33, "span": [1415, 1808], "span_label": ["1415 CE", "1808 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 14}, {"title": "Exploration & Expansion", "count": 10}, {"title": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "count": 7}, {"title": "Crime & Justice", "count": 3}, {"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 1}, {"title": "Culture & Society", "count": 1}, {"title": "Climate & Environment", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "ming-dynasty", "label": "Ming dynasty", "shared": 7}, {"slug": "macau", "label": "Macau", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "spanish-empire", "label": "Spanish Empire", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "ethiopia", "label": "Ethiopia", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "china", "label": "China", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "guangzhou", "label": "Guangzhou", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "dutch-republic", "label": "Dutch Republic", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "kingdom-of-kongo", "label": "Kingdom of Kongo", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "sri-lanka", "label": "Sri Lanka", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "dutch-east-india-company", "label": "Dutch East India Company", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "colonial-brazil", "label": "Colonial Brazil", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "japan", "label": "Japan", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": 1415, "year_label": "1415 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "August 21", "text": "August 21 – Conquest of Ceuta: Portugal conquers the city of Ceuta from the Moors, initiating the Portuguese Empire, and European expansion and colonialism.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371593286#July–September", "title": "1415", "revid": 1371593286, "section": "Events › July–September"}}, {"year": 1491, "year_label": "1491 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "May 3", "text": "May 3 – The ruler of the Kingdom of Kongo, Nkuwu Nzinga, is baptised by Portuguese missionaries, adopting the baptismal name of João I.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360561378#April–June", "title": "1491", "revid": 1360561378, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1498, "year_label": "1498 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "April 14", "text": "April 14 – Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama reaches Malindi, in modern-day Kenya.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1363338704#April–June", "title": "1498", "revid": 1363338704, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1510, "year_label": "1510 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "March 1", "text": "March 1 – Battle of Salt River: Indigenous ǃUriǁʼaekua decisively defeat sailors of the Portuguese Empire in South Africa.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366972051#January–March", "title": "1510", "revid": 1366972051, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1513, "year_label": "1513 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "May", "text": "May – Portuguese explorer Jorge Álvares and his crew land on Lintin Island, in the Pearl River estuary, near Guangzhou, becoming the first Europeans to arrive in China by sea.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1363949569#April–June", "title": "1513", "revid": 1363949569, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1522, "year_label": "1522 CE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": null, "text": "Chinese Ming dynasty War Ministry official He Ru is the first to acquire the Portuguese breech-loading culverin, while copies of them are made by two Westernized Chinese at Beijing, Yang San (Pedro Yang) and Dai Ming.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372799978#Date_unknown", "title": "1522", "revid": 1372799978, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1523, "year_label": "1523 CE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": null, "text": "The Ming dynasty Chinese navy captures two Western ships with Portuguese breech–loading culverins aboard, which the Chinese call a fo–lang–ji (Frankish culverin). According to the Ming Shi, these cannons are soon presented to the Jiajing Emperor by Wang Hong, and their design is copied in 1529.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369561167#Date_unknown", "title": "1523", "revid": 1369561167, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1529, "year_label": "1529 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "April 22", "text": "April 22 – The Treaty of Zaragoza divides the eastern hemisphere between the Spanish and Portuguese empires, stipulating that the dividing line should lie 297.5 leagues or 17° east of the Moluccas.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362793946#April–June", "title": "1529", "revid": 1362793946, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1534, "year_label": "1534 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "March 10", "text": "March 10 – The Portuguese crown divides Colonial Brazil into fifteen donatory captaincies, hereditary titles similar to duchies. Rodrigo Ricupero, A Formação da Elite Colonial no Brasil (de 1530 a 1630) (Almedina Brasil, 2020),", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369558671#January–March", "title": "1534", "revid": 1369558671, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1537, "year_label": "1537 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": "March 12", "text": "March 12 – Recife is founded by the Portuguese, in Brazil.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362632656#January–March", "title": "1537", "revid": 1362632656, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1541, "year_label": "1541 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "April 7", "text": "April 7 – Francis Xavier leaves Lisbon, on a mission to the Portuguese East Indies.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1361813253#April–June", "title": "1541", "revid": 1361813253, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1542, "year_label": "1542 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "The first contact of Japan with the West occurs when a Portuguese ship, blown off its course to China, lands Antonio Pexoto, Francisco Zeimoto and António Mota in Japan, according to António Galvão. According to the Japanese books Tanegashima Kafu and Teppoki, it is stated they landed in 1543.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359947406#Date_unknown", "title": "1542", "revid": 1359947406, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1542, "year_label": "1542 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "April 4", "text": "April 4 – The Battle of Jarte begins in Ethiopia as the Army of the Portuguese Empire, commanded by Cristóvão da Gama encounters the army of the Ethiopian ruler, the Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, achieving a victory on April 16.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359947406#April–June", "title": "1542", "revid": 1359947406, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1542, "year_label": "1542 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "August 28", "text": "August 28 – Battle of Wofla in Ethiopia: Reinforced with at least 2900 arquebusiers and cavalry, the Imam Ahmed ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi attacks the Portuguese camp. The Portuguese are scattered; Cristóvão da Gama is captured and executed.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359947406#July–September", "title": "1542", "revid": 1359947406, "section": "Events › July–September"}}, {"year": 1542, "year_label": "1542 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "February 2", "text": "February 2 – Battle of Baçente: The Portuguese under Cristóvão da Gama capture a Muslim-occupied hillfort in northern Ethiopia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359947406#January–March", "title": "1542", "revid": 1359947406, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1544, "year_label": "1544 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Portuguese explorers encounter the island of Taiwan, and call it Ilha Formosa (\"Beautiful Island\").", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359947848#Date_unknown", "title": "1544", "revid": 1359947848, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1549, "year_label": "1549 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Although trade existed between the two beforehand, in this year the Portuguese begin to send regular seasonal maritime trade missions to Ming dynasty China, at Sao João Island (also known as Shangchuan Island) near Macau.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362482759#Date_unknown", "title": "1549", "revid": 1362482759, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1551, "year_label": "1551 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Portugal founds a sugar colony at Bahia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1352783865#Date_unknown", "title": "1551", "revid": 1352783865, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1557, "year_label": "1557 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "With the permission of the Ming dynasty government of China, and for the benefit of both Western and Eastern merchants, the Portuguese settle in Macau (retroceded in 1999). Direct Sino-Portuguese trade has existed since 1513, but this is the first official legal treaty port on traditional Chinese soil, that will form a long-term Western settlement.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365955110#Date_unknown", "title": "1557", "revid": 1365955110, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1573, "year_label": "1573 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "The first Spanish galleon, laden with silver for the porcelain and silk trade with the Ming Dynasty of China, lands at Manila in the Philippines. This occasion marks the beginning of the Spanish silver trade to China, that will trump that of the Portuguese, the latter of whom acted as an intermediary between the silver mines of Japan, and the luxury items in China to be purchased with that silver. Most of the silver entering China comes from what is now Mexico, Bolivia, and Peru in the New World.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366656331#Date_unknown", "title": "1573", "revid": 1366656331, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1578, "year_label": "1578 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Portuguese assist Lord Ōmura Sumitada, the first Christian Japanese daimyo, in repulsing an assault on Nagasaki by the Ryūzōji clan.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1356931160#Date_unknown", "title": "1578", "revid": 1356931160, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1580, "year_label": "1580 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "March 25", "text": "March 25 – Iberian Union: King Philip II of Spain becomes King of Portugal under the name Philip I, following the death without heirs of King Henry of Portugal, in a personal union of the crowns, thus maintaining Portuguese independence (in Europe and throughout the Portuguese Empire). The Philippine Dynasty rule lasts until 1640.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369376205#January–March", "title": "1580", "revid": 1369376205, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1594, "year_label": "1594 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "October 9", "text": "October 9 – Sinhalese–Portuguese War – Campaign of Danture: Forces of the Kingdom of Kandy gain a decisive victory over the Portuguese Empire, reversing near-total control of Sri Lanka by Portugal. Pedro Lopes de Sousa, the Governor of Portuguese Ceylon, is killed in the battle, and replaced on December 24 by Jerónimo de Azevedo.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1319812312#October–December", "title": "1594", "revid": 1319812312, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1601, "year_label": "1601 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Dutch troops attack the Portuguese in Malacca.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369165918#Date_unknown", "title": "1601", "revid": 1369165918, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1602, "year_label": "1602 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Portuguese are expelled from Bahrain.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1351972919#Date_unknown", "title": "1602", "revid": 1351972919, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1602, "year_label": "1602 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "June 5", "text": "June 5 – James Lancaster's East India Company fleet arrives at Achin (modern-day Aceh), Sumatra to deal with the local ruler. Having defeated Portugal's ally, the ruler is happy to do business, and Lancaster seizes a large Portuguese galleon and loots it.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1351972919#April–June", "title": "1602", "revid": 1351972919, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1603, "year_label": "1603 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "February 25", "text": "February 25 – Dutch–Portuguese War: the Portuguese ship Santa Catarina is seized by Dutch East India Company ships off Singapore.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366656830#January–March", "title": "1603", "revid": 1366656830, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1606, "year_label": "1606 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "August 16", "text": "August 16 – Battle of Cape Rachado: A Dutch fleet is defeated by the Portuguese.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369561009#July–September", "title": "1606", "revid": 1369561009, "section": "Events › July–September"}}, {"year": 1612, "year_label": "1612 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "November 30", "text": "November 30 – Battle of Swally: Forces of the British East India Company and Portugal engage off the coast of India, resulting in an English victory.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366306597#October–December", "title": "1612", "revid": 1366306597, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1623, "year_label": "1623 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "January", "text": "January – Battle of Mbanda Kasi: Forces from the Kingdom of Kongo defeat the Portuguese.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366655899#January–March", "title": "1623", "revid": 1366655899, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1624, "year_label": "1624 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "May 8", "text": "May 8 – Capture of Bahia: A Dutch West India Company fleet captures the Brazilian city of Salvador, Bahia from the Portuguese Empire (at this time in the Iberian Union).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1331350573#April–June", "title": "1624", "revid": 1331350573, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1637, "year_label": "1637 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "June 27", "text": "June 27 – The first English venture to China is attempted by Captain John Weddell, who sails into port in Macau and Canton during the late Ming dynasty with six ships. The voyages are for trade, which is dominated here by the Portuguese (at this time combined with the power of Spain). He brings 38,421 pairs of eyeglasses, perhaps the first recorded European-made eyeglasses to enter China.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1339166592#April–June", "title": "1637", "revid": 1339166592, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1639, "year_label": "1639 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "May 2", "text": "May 2 – After a 40-day siege, the Dutch East India Company Army captures the Trincomalee Fort on the island of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from the Portuguese Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360051116#April–June", "title": "1639", "revid": 1360051116, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1644, "year_label": "1644 CE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": null, "text": "A Spanish officer is murdered in St. Dominic's Church, Macau during mass by colonists loyal to Portugal during the Portuguese Restoration War.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369560996#Date_unknown", "title": "1644", "revid": 1369560996, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1750, "year_label": "1750 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "July 31", "text": "July 31 – José I takes over the throne of Portugal from his deceased father, João V. King José Manuel appoints the Marquis of Pombal as his Chief Minister, who then strips the Inquisition of its power.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1349828876#July–September", "title": "1750", "revid": 1349828876, "section": "Events › July–September"}}, {"year": 1755, "year_label": "1755 CE", "section": "Climate & Environment", "date": "November 1", "text": "November 1 – More than 40,000 people are killed by the 8.5 magnitude earthquake in Lisbon, Portuguese Empire. The tremor begins at 9:40 in the morning local time off of the Atlantic coast of Portugal and sends a tsunami that strikes the coasts of Portugal, Spain and Morocco.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360194188#October–December", "title": "1755", "revid": 1360194188, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1808, "year_label": "1808 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "March 7", "text": "March 7 – Transfer of the Portuguese court to Brazil: The Portuguese royal court arrives in Rio de Janeiro, making it the centre of the Portuguese Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369185588#January–March", "title": "1808", "revid": 1369185588, "section": "Events › January–March"}}]}