Campaign of Porto Calvo

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The Campaign of Porto Calvo (1637) was a Dutch military expedition during the Dutch invasions of Brazil. Led by John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen, its goal was to seize Porto Calvo from Portuguese and Spanish forces. After years of Dutch expansion in Brazil, including the 1624 seizure of Salvador and John Maurice’s appointment as governor in 1636, the Dutch pushed for greater control. Don Luis de Rojas y Borgia arrived in Brazil and began guerrilla warfare from Porto Calvo. Von Schoppe advocated a more aggressive approach, and Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen arrived in Recife with four ships and about 350 men, requesting 3,000 more troops. The united force met Portuguese forces at the Uma River in February and moved on Barra Grande. They captured Forte do Bom Sucesso, plundered Alagos, and advanced to Porto Calvo. In the Battle of Porto Calvo, the Dutch defeated the Portuguese–Spanish defenders. They then besieged the fortress at Porto Calvo, which was defended from surrounding hills. After about a week of tunneling and fighting, Porto Calvo surrendered, and the Dutch gained a large amount of artillery and mortars. The campaign expanded Dutch Brazil and helped reduce guerrilla resistance. Casualties were light and not precisely known, with a small number of dead and dozens wounded.