Military Organisation and the Defense System from the 15th to the 17th Century
- Military Organization
- Political organization
As well as civil power, military power was also organised, albeit more slowly, as the monopoly of trade with Guinea did not cause serious problems for the safety of the armadores (ship fitters), until the pirate attacks in the mid-16th Century. It was made up of escudeiros (squires), fidalgos (noblemen) and Cavaleiros da Ordem de Santiago (Knights of the Order of Santiago), as well as some career soldiers and artillery technicians, from Portugal and abroad, who were sent to train the militias. The army was made up of "Companhias de Milícia" (militia companies), which were later transformed into "Companhias de Ordenanças" (ordinance companies), which were effective in 1570. In 1582 there were four ordinance companies on Santiago (3 in Ribeira Grande and one in Praia) and one on Fogo. With an average of 250 soldiers in each, the army was made up of around 1.000 soldiers at that time.
At the top of the army hierarchy was the all-powerful capitão-mor (captain-major), the local leader based in the capital, who held office for 3 years and named the captains, officers and sergeants of the companies.
The military was not paid, and gentlemen were called to participate in the army by providing soldiers from their staff, who would have the obligation to train and attend the alerts. However a small number of expert posts (bombardiers, armourers, torch bearers) were paid, which meant that there was a small body of career soldiers. The facheiros (torch bearers) played an important preventive role, communicating by semaphore between the strategic observation points (Forte Real de S. Filipe, Ribeirão Baltazar Correia, S. Martinho, Monte Vermelho, Praia Negra, Pescadeiro Alto), when they saw pirate ships heading towards Ribeira Grande or Praia.
In 1593 the Forte Real de S. Filipe was ready for use, and in addition to the Forte de Santa Marta, in the west, and the two bastions at the entrance to the port, it provided greater security for Ribeira Grande. The Spaniard, Diego Flores de Valdez, had previously explained to King Phillip II of Spain, and to the king of Portugal at the time, the precarious situation in which the capital then found itself, at the mercy of pirate attacks.
A bastion was also constructed in Praia, as well as various watchpoints at several defensive strategic points in Santiago and in Fogo.
The kingdom provided the islands' navy with 2 galleys, which principally patrolled the rivers of Guinea to counter illegal trade, and 6 zabras (small frigates) for patrolling the coasts of the islands, 2 galleons, a nau (carrack), and 5 caravels. This fleet was managed by 750 members of the navy, and its mission was to defend the ports of Cape Verde and Guinea, particularly Ribeira Grande, Praia and Cacheu, to patrol the merchant ships and to hunt pirates and privateers.
As well as civil power, military power was also organised, albeit more slowly, as the monopoly of trade with Guinea did not cause serious problems for the safety of the armadores (ship fitters), until the pirate attacks in the mid-16th Century. It was made up of escudeiros (squires), fidalgos (noblemen) and Cavaleiros da Ordem de Santiago (Knights of the Order of Santiago), as well as some career soldiers and artillery technicians, from Portugal and abroad, who were sent to train the militias. The army was made up of "Companhias de Milícia" (militia companies), which were later transformed into "Companhias de Ordenanças" (ordinance companies), which were effective in 1570. In 1582 there were four ordinance companies on Santiago (3 in Ribeira Grande and one in Praia) and one on Fogo. With an average of 250 soldiers in each, the army was made up of around 1.000 soldiers at that time.
At the top of the army hierarchy was the all-powerful capitão-mor (captain-major), the local leader based in the capital, who held office for 3 years and named the captains, officers and sergeants of the companies.
The military was not paid, and gentlemen were called to participate in the army by providing soldiers from their staff, who would have the obligation to train and attend the alerts. However a small number of expert posts (bombardiers, armourers, torch bearers) were paid, which meant that there was a small body of career soldiers. The facheiros (torch bearers) played an important preventive role, communicating by semaphore between the strategic observation points (Forte Real de S. Filipe, Ribeirão Baltazar Correia, S. Martinho, Monte Vermelho, Praia Negra, Pescadeiro Alto), when they saw pirate ships heading towards Ribeira Grande or Praia.
In 1593 the Forte Real de S. Filipe was ready for use, and in addition to the Forte de Santa Marta, in the west, and the two bastions at the entrance to the port, it provided greater security for Ribeira Grande. The Spaniard, Diego Flores de Valdez, had previously explained to King Phillip II of Spain, and to the king of Portugal at the time, the precarious situation in which the capital then found itself, at the mercy of pirate attacks.
A bastion was also constructed in Praia, as well as various watchpoints at several defensive strategic points in Santiago and in Fogo.
The kingdom provided the islands' navy with 2 galleys, which principally patrolled the rivers of Guinea to counter illegal trade, and 6 zabras (small frigates) for patrolling the coasts of the islands, 2 galleons, a nau (carrack), and 5 caravels. This fleet was managed by 750 members of the navy, and its mission was to defend the ports of Cape Verde and Guinea, particularly Ribeira Grande, Praia and Cacheu, to patrol the merchant ships and to hunt pirates and privateers.
