The Battle of Mbandi Kasi turned the 1622–1623 Portuguese-Kongo conflict in favor of Kongo, leading to the removal of the Portuguese governor of Luanda.
Key Facts
- War duration
- 1622 to 1623
- Opposing forces
- Portuguese Angola vs. Kingdom of Kongo
- Source of record
- Kongolese-Dutch correspondence
- Outcome for Kongo
- Return of enslaved Kongolese subjects
- Post-war alliance sought
- Kongo sought alliance with Dutch Empire
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Tensions between Portuguese Angola and the Kingdom of Kongo escalated into open armed conflict beginning in 1622, rooted in Portuguese slave-raiding campaigns that had captured Kongolese subjects. This first armed conflict between the two powers set the stage for the engagement at Mbandi Kasi.
The Battle of Mbandi Kasi was fought between Portuguese Angolan forces and the Kingdom of Kongo. Although not widely documented by the Portuguese, it was recorded in correspondence between Kongo and their Dutch allies. The battle resulted in a decisive shift in momentum, favoring the Kongolese side during this short war.
Following their victory at Mbandi Kasi, the Kongolese secured the ouster of the Portuguese governor of Luanda and the repatriation of Kongolese people taken as slaves. Manikongo Pedro II subsequently pursued a formal alliance with the Dutch Empire with the goal of expelling the Portuguese from the region entirely.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Pedro II (Manikongo).
Side B
1 belligerent