Jeronimo de Azevado’s invaded Kandy (Jones, 2003).
Portuguese Explorers
During what they called the Marvellous Century (O Século Maravilhoso) Portuguese Explorers did their part to discover the New World. Brazil, Africa, India, Ceylon, South-East Asia, Japan – the Portuguese Explorers got to them all.
Sources for the Portuguese in Colonial Ceylon
Annotated bibliography for the Portuguese in Colonial Ceylon
Order of Battle for Colonial Ceylon
Order of Battle for Colonial Ceylon. Portuguese, Dutch and Kandyan.
Painting Guide for Colonial Ceylon
A few notes on painting a Portuguese colonial army in Ceylon.
Portuguese in Colonial Ceylon
Another colourful colonial episode. Like Brazil, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) was a Portuguese playground. My interest was sparked by a couple of articles in Arquebusier, The Journal of the Pike and Shot Society.
15mm Wargaming Figures for Colonial Ceylon
Designed to be used with DBM/DBR lists (DBM book 4, lists 37 and 40, DBR book 3) but could be
used with any other lists. They can also be used as many other type of South East Asian types,
including South Chinese tribal troops (DBM Books 2,3,4), Hindu Indians, Viet/ Khmer Warband or
Auxiliaries, Tamils (DBR book 3, DBM book 2), Chinese pirates (DBR book 1).
MAL1 Warband with swords {v} [B]
MAL2 Bowmen {v} [B]
MAL3 Skirmishers with blowpipes [B]
MAL4 Musketeers {v} [B]
MAL5 Noble Cavalry {v} [B]
MAL6 Mounted Generals and Nobles {v} [B]
MAL8 Warband with spears {v} [B]
MAL9 Foot Command [B]
MAL10 Artillery Crews {v} [B]
MAL11 Small bombards and cannon balls [B]
MAL12 General’s elephant with howdah, general, parasol bearer [F]
MAL13 Elephant with howdah and spearmen. [F]
MAL14 Elephant with howdah and archers. [F]
MAL15 Baggage – 4 water buffalo & 4 servants. [B]
BUFF1 Water buffalo/oxen (x6) [B]
BUFF2 Draught water buffalo/oxen in harness (x6) [B]
Glossary for Colonial Brazil
Very short glossary for terms used in Portuguese Colonial Brazil.
Colonial Portuguese – New World DBA Army List
Colonial Portuguese (1494-1700) for New World DBA, my New World variant of DBA. Based on DBR III/1. This list covers the Portuguese Explorers of the 16th and 17th Centuries. Portuguese expeditions fought in Brazil, Africa and Asia.
Colonial Brazil: Portuguese, Tupi, etc
A Portuguese fleet of 13 ships commanded by Pero Alveres Cabral arrived on the coast of southern Brazil on 22 April 1500.
Tupi or Tupaia – New World DBA Army List
Tupi or Tupaia (1200-1750) for New World DBA, my New World variant of DBA. Based on DBM IV/29 and DBR III/6. This list covers the coastal tribes of Brazil before until subjugated by the Portuguese. The Tupi were aggressive and warlike cannibals that invaded the Brazilian coast just before the Portuguese arrived. They called their non-Tupi speaking predecessors “Tupaia”, although this actually covered a wide range of languages and groups. The largest Tupaia group were the Gé-speaking tribes only some of whom were cannibals (Waitacá, Aimoré). The coastal Indians fought amongst themselves until the Portuguese arrived, then fought both amongst themselves and against the Portuguese. Indian tactics were simple and effective; after an initial barrage of arrows the entire club wielding mass charged “like bulls”. The Aimoré were unusual in that they had a preference for shooting from ambush then dashing away; this practice also explains the name given to them by their enemies – Aimoré being a Tupi word for “evil people” or “killers”.
Zimba – New World DBA Army List
Zimba (1494-1590) army list for New World DBA, my New World variant of DBA. Based on DBR III/8. The Zimba were of several east African pagan peoples, the Zimba were cannibals first encountered by Europeans as they emerged from the African interior and attacked the coastal inhabitants. Zimba warriors carried bows, poisoned arrows and fire-hardened wooden spears and small wooden shields. They captured Mombsa in alliance with the Portuguese in 1589, but were destroyed by the Segeju in 1590.
Amazonian – New World DBA Army List
Amazonian (1350-1662) for New World DBA, my New World variant of DBA. Based on DBM IV/72; DBR I/36.
West African Forest People – New World DBA Army List
West African Forest Peoples (1494-1700) army list for New World DBA, my New World variant of DBA. Based on DBR III/7. Covers the Kingdoms of Ashanti, Yoruba, Benin, Ngola, Kongo (Christian from 1490), Dahomey from1600, and the Jaga (Cannibal). The west Africans favoured ambushes from their native woods, leading Europeans to a unfavourable assessment of their warlike spirit. The most common equipment were javelins, short sword, and a large light shield. After 1658 cheap flintlocks called “Dane guns” were used for skirmishing. Kongo armies, being Christian, carried flags emblazoned with crosses. Dahomey fielded amazons. The Jaga attacked Kongo in 1568-73 and were then defeated by the Portuguese. Kongo fell to the Portuguese in 1665.
Monomotapa – New World DBA Army List
Monomotapa (1494-1700) army list for New World DBA, my New World variant of DBA. Based on DBR III/8. One of several east African pagan peoples, the Momomotapa Kingdom was in the area of modern Zimbabwe. Of the Shona they were warlike, great traders, and built large stone city complexes. The warriors had spears or bows with iron arrowheads. Nobles wore skins with long tails and gold decorated wooden scabbards. The Momomotapa had a variety of vassal states. Some of the vassal states fell to Portuguese adventurers.
Brazilian Tribes in Colonial Times
The Tupi called all non-Tupi Tapuia, meaning “people of a strange tongue”, “enemies” or “westerners” (Heath, 2001). As a cultural differentiator it isn’t very useful as it includes at least 76 distinct tribes and six language groups.