Event
The Battle of Kitombo takes place in southwest Africa in Angola
18 Oct 1670 · 6.08° S, 12.45° E
What the records say
- When
- 18 Oct 1670
- Kind
- Event
- Coordinates
- 6.08° S, 12.45° E
Placed at the river its text puts it in, Congo River.
Summary
The Battle of Kitombo takes place in southwest Africa in Angola, when colonial soldiers of the Army of Portugal invade Soyo, an independent BaKongo kingdom, with the intent of annexing it to Portuguese West Africa. The 400 Portuguese troops, led by João Soares de Almeida, encounter a stiff resistance. Soyo's Estevao da Silva, whose army has the benefit of weapons supplied by the Dutch Republic, is joined in battle by troops from the neighboring Kingdom of Ngoyo on the other side of the Congo River. General Soares de Almeida is killed, and most of his troops die or are captured; Soyo's General da Silva is killed in the process of winning the battle. Because of the defeat, Portugal makes no further attempt to conquer Soyo or Ngoyo.