Second Battle of Guararapes
The
Second Battle of Guararapes was the second and decisive battle in a conflict called
Pernanbucana Insurrection, between
Dutch and
Portuguese forces in
1649 at
Pernambuco, ending the
Dutch occupation of Brazil.
Though the
Dutch West India Company fielded a larger, better equipped force, they suffered
morale problems as most of their army was made up of
mercenaries from
Europe (primarily
Germany) who felt no real passion for the war in Brazil, as opposed to the
Natives and Luso-Brazilian settlers who considered Brazil to be their home and were fighting for a
patriotic cause. The Dutch force was also unused to fighting in the dense
jungle and
humid conditions of the country, wearing thick, brightly coloured European clothing and heavy metal
armour which inhibited their
dexterity. Contemporary accounts describe Dutch troops at the battle as "pale and sickly". The Dutch army at Guararapes were armed with
pikes,
cannon and an assortment of
bladed weapons. It is thought by historians that the use of short blades by the Dutch was an attempt to imitate previously successful Portuguese weaponry and
tactics.
The Luso-Brazilian force was made up of an assortment of natives, blacks and whites who knew, and had experience fighting in, the difficult Brazilian terrain. They would weaken Dutch troops with fusillades of
musketfire from behind trees, and then charge with
mêlée weapons.
The Dutch had expected the enemy to march down the well established coastal roads, and thus formed a lines of defence covering these roads. However, the Luso-Brazilian force used a series of minor trails to reach Pernambuco, appearing out of the
wetlands to the west and Guararapes hills (from which the battle derived its name) and flanking the Dutch. After several hours of fighting, the Dutch retreated northwards to
Recife, leaving their artillery behind. Following the Dutch retreat, the Portuguese army marched into Pernambuco.
*
Henrique Dias - Son of
slaves, he was the
governador da gente preta (governor of the black people), ex-slaves from farms reached by the conflict
*
Filipe Camarão -
Native Brazilian from the
Potiguar tribe, leader of the forces from that tribe
*
João Fernandes Vieira - Land owner of
Funchal,
Madeira commanded one
infantry terço.
*
André Vidal de Negreiros -
Brazilian commanded one
infantry terço.
*
DBM Colonial Portuguese*
Irene's Country Corner - Brasil
