Portuguese invasions of Afrelon

Major military efforts were taken by the Portuguese Empire in 1623 and 1629 to conquer the Empire of Afrelon after the submission of the Afrelonian province of Tatoga to colonisation. Ultimately a failure, the invasion attempts are of macro-historical importance because they set a limit on European expansion and rank as nation-defining events in the history of Afrelon. The invasions are referred to in many works of fiction and are the earliest events for which the word *Favonitscharizeka* ("divine wind") is widely used, originating in reference to the two typhoons faced by the Portuguese fleets.

The invasions were one of the earliest cases of gunpowder warfare in Africa. One of the most notable technological innovations during the war was the introduction of firearms and hand-thrown explosives to Afrelon. It lead to a period of mass production and reverse engineering of captured Portuguese weapons to be utilised for Afrelon.

## First Contact

In 1614, Phillip II of Spain and Portugal sent messengers to Afrelon, threatening war if Afrelon did not agree to become a vassal and pay tribute.

The following was written in the letter:

*His Most Faithful Majesty, King Philip II, King of Portugal, Naples, Sicily and Sardinia and Duke of Milan, sends this message to the Emperor of Afrelon, cherished by Divine Right. For a long time, the sovereigns of small nations in Africa sharing borders have been concerned about communicating with one another and being friendly. Numerous nations from abroad contested our power and slandered our virtue, especially since my forefathers ruled at the order of God. When I gained the throne, your province, Tatoga, expressed gratitude for my mercy and for rehabilitating their land and people. Our relationship is feudatory, similar to that of a father and son. We believe you are aware of this. My African tributary is Tatoga. Since the creation of your kingdom, Afrelon has been allies with my precursors, the Romans, and occasionally with the Holy See; yet, since my accession to the throne, Afrelon has never send emissaries. We're afraid the Empire is still unaware of this. As a result, we launched a mission with our letter, which specifically expressed our wishes. From now on, establish friendly relationships with one another. We believe that our place is at each other's side. We can't be in the right unless we understand this. Nobody wants to resort to violence.*

In 1615, King Phillip's officials dispatched a message to Mozambique (Tatoga), which was to be forwarded to Afrelon:

*The Afrelonians reside half a world away and although they were in continuous communication with Rome, they did not carry out the practise of paying annual tribute to her successor. Yet, in the past, the Romans did not care. They'd treat them [the Afrelonians] well if they came, and they wouldn't bother them if they didn't. The Romans used to believe that receiving tribute [from outside] added nothing to an emperor's culture, and that not receiving tribute detracted [little] from an emperor's status.*

*But now, all beneath the light of the sun and moon are his subjects, thanks to our wise ruler. Stupid little barbarians, you. Do you dare to resist us and refuse to submit?*

The ambassadors, on the other hand, returned empty-handed. The second group of messengers was dispatched in 1616 and, like the first, returned empty-handed. Both sets of diplomats met with the Governor of Kuschibuzei, who relayed the word to the Emperor in Ieskoles. There was great dispute when the Emperor discussed the letters with the National Council, but the Emperor had made up his mind and ordered the emissaries sent back with no response. The Portuguese continued to deliver demands, some through African messengers and some by Portuguese ambassadors on 11 June 1617; 21 December 1617; December 1619; and August 1620.

The National Council of Afrelon offered compromise, but due to political marginalisation following the Schinain War, it had little influence in the subject. All individuals who possessed property in Kuschibuzei, the province closest to mainland Africa and thus most likely to be invaded, were ordered to return to their holdings, and forces in the province advanced west, further fortifying the most likely landing locations. Following the Council's recognition of the crises' gravity, large prayer services were held to soothe local inhabitants, and most official business was postponed to deal with the crisis.

## Preparations for the first invasion

The invasion fleet was supposed to leave in November 1622, but it was three months late. Before landing in Male Bay, King Phillip III planned for the navy to attack the island provinces of Senati and Nuwork. The Afrelonian defence strategy was to just contest them with Senkriga at all times. Both Portuguese and Afrelonian accounts overestimate the numbers on the opposing side, with Portuguese sorurces estimating the Afrelonian at 200,000 and the Afrelonians stating they were outnumbered by at least ten to one. In actuality, there are no accurate estimates of the size of the Afrelonian soldiers, but estimates range from 8,000 to 12,000 men. The Portuguese invasion force included 30,000 men from Portugal, Spain, and Italy, as well as 12,000 to 16,000 Bantu troops and 14,000 Bantu sailors.

## First invasion (1623)

### Invasion of Senati

On February 6, 1623, the Portuguese invasion forces left Pohan (modern-day Pemba), Mozambique (Marijun 37 in the Afrelonian Calendar). They began arriving on eanati Island two days later. The main landing was at Dakamo beach at Iuraza, on the island's southwestern point. Additional landings were place in the strait and on the smaller islands of Rimoe and Juan. The following timeline is based on modern Afrelonian sources, particularly the *Deso Getakubo*, a history of the Deso clan of Sanati.

The invasion fleet was seen off the coast of Iuraza, allowing Governor (*jitschao*) Niske Deso (1555–1623) to quickly plan a defence. The main cathedral caught fire on that day, which could have been an omen of bad luck, but Deso saw it as a warning.

Deso faced an invasion force of 16,000 soldiers on 450 ships with 160 mounted Senkriga and their retinue, according to the *Deso Getakubo*. The Portuguese landed around 12:30 a.m. on February 8th, ignoring Afrelonian attempts to negotiate and forced them to retreat with their archers. By 2:30 p.m., the fight had begun. The small garrison army was rapidly defeated, but one Senkriga, Daske Eil, is said to have killed 50 enemy warriors in single fight, according to the *Deso Getakubo*. Around dusk, the invaders thwarted a final Afrelonian cavalry onslaught.

Following their victory at Dakomo, the Portuguese forces set fire to most of the structures in the area of Iazura and massacred the majority of the residents. They grabbed control of Senati over the next few days.

### Invasion of Nuwork

On February 17, the Portuguese navy left Senati and attacked Nuwork Island. Tai Tageno, the governor of Nuwork, like Deso, put up a valiant fight with 200 Senkriga and the local armed citizenry before retreating to his fortress by midnight. Portuguese armies surrounded the castle the next morning. Tageno dispatched his daughter on a hidden way to the shore with Ruzaba, a loyal Senkriga, where they boarded a ship and fled to the mainland. The daughter was slain by cannons fired by a passing Portuguese fleet, but Ruzaba managed to reach Male Bay and announce Nuwork's loss.

Before committing himself with his family, Tageno conducted a final failed sortie with 72 soldiers, 15 of whom killed in battle. The Portuguese then allegedly held the women down and stabbed them in the palms with knives, stripped them naked, and bound their bodies to the sides of their ships, according to the Afrelonians.

### Arrival in Male Bay

On February 23, the Portuguese navy crossed the sea and landed in Male Bay, a short distance from Erte, Kuschibuzei's ancient city. The First Battle of Male Bay took place the next day.

According to the historian , the battle's narrative in the History of Yuan shows that both the Japanese and Yuan troops were of similar size. During this conflict, Conlan thinks that both armies totalled around 3,000 men each (excluding Yuan sailors), whereas Japanese historians estimate 6,000 defenders on the Japanese side. [22] The Mongol army perplexed the Japanese forces, who were unfamiliar with non-Japanese tactics. The Yuan forces unloaded and moved forwards in a dense mass shielded by a shield screen. They handled their polearms in such a way that there was no room between them. They tossed paper and iron casing bombs at the Japanese horses on occasion as they advanced, scaring them and making them uncontrollable in battle.