Portuguese conquest of the Gaza Empire
| Portuguese conquest of the Gaza Empire | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Campaigns of Pacification and Occupation | |||||||||
The capture of Gungunhana by Mouzinho de Albuquerque | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Kingdom of Portugal | Gaza Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Gungunhana Matibejana Zixaxa Mahoune | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 2,500 men | 60,000 warriors | ||||||||
The Portuguese conquest of the Gaza Empire was an armed conflict that took place in 1895 in territory that is now part of Mozambique. It was part of the Portuguese Campaigns of Pacification and Occupation and Mouzinho de Albuquerque distinguished himself by capturing the Vatua emperor, Gungunhana.
The occupation of Gaza took place during the Scramble for Africa, and Vatua power was weakened by epidemics, famine, youth emigration and internal revolts by subjugated peoples.
The Marracuene and Gaza campaigns were the first of the so-called 'age of the centurions', marked by the rapid annexation of territory by experienced officers of the Portuguese Army sent to Africa ahead of large and well-equipped expeditions, which lasted until 1909.