Militares e militarização no Reino de Angola: patentes, guerra, comércio e vassalagem (segunda metade do século XVIII

Abstract

This paper analyzes the way of organization in Angola’s troops during the second half of the eighteenth century, a period of reforms in the vast Portuguese Empire overseas. In Angola, the military were important for the implementation of reforms, especially about the politics of “territorialização”. However the African reality established limits on this project and different factors such as the presence of Africans in military troops, caused the inclusion of many local culture aspects, whether in the organization of the troops or in military posts. Besides the distance, the specificities of the region prevented the uniformity of the criterions and the action. Therefore, we can say that the administrative system had several formulas, considering that the Portugal Kingdom legislation was not faithfully followed in the overseas possessions, being adapted to local realities. Therefore, the constitution of the armies in Angola did not follow a uniform pattern and the tactics and the war weapons revealed the adoption of local military culture.