Europe 239
Participants: 220 France/235 Portugal
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: There was a clash between France and Portugal during the Liberal Wars.
The arrival of Dom Miguel to Portugal was not without regional controversy. During
this period of upheaval in Portugal, foreign nationals of both Great Britain and France
suffered under his heavy hand. Britain was able to satisfy her demands with Portugal
through their preexisting alliance. France needed force to coerce Portugal into repara-
tions. On May 19, 1831, Vice-Admiral Roussin of the French Navy arrived with his fleet
to deliver an ultimatum to the Portuguese government. Portugal consulted Britain for
help, but Britain refused. France responded with a blockade of Portuguese ports, limited
to Portuguese vessels. Early July saw a few attacks initiated by the French squadron.
They captured a Portuguese merchant vessel and two government ships (the Orestes and
the Urania). France again pressed her demands but with no indication of surrender by
Portugal. Frustrated, the French squadron forced its way into the Tagus river on July 11.
While Portuguese forts opened fire on the French vessels, killing three and wounding
11, the Portuguese Navy ended up surrendering. A treaty was concluded on July 14.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from July 1, 1831. Fatalities changed from None.
MID#1743
Dispute Number: 1743
Date(s): November 27, 1857 to October 23, 1858
Participants: 235 Portugal/220 France
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (Imposed)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On November 21, a Mozambique detachment of 20 men and an officer
arrived at the port of Conducia (about two to three leagues removed from Mozam-
bique) to search the Charles et George, which had caused considerable excitement in
Mozambique for potentially engaging in the slave trade. They were instructed to pre-
vent the ship from embarking from that port but were unable to inspect and hold it. The
ship left port and the detachment followed. Eventually, the ship returned to Conducia,
where the Mozambique detachment was able to inspect it. On board, they find 110
“negroes,” mostly boys about 16 years in age and old men. By this time, this was still
essentially a Mozambique issue without official involvement from Lisbon. On Novem-
ber 27, 1857, the Charles et George was captured and taken to mainland Mozambique
for inquiry. Other sources put the date of capture at November 29. Sources conflict.
The committee responsible for the inquiry determines that the 110 people on board
were not volunteers, nor contract laborers. They were sold to the captain of the ship
and, even more outrageous, a few people on board were even Mozambique citizens.
Once more, the committee also determined that French government official, from the
Island of Reunion, was on board the Charles et George. When pressed, this govern-
ment official could not produce contracts for these 110 “negroes” because, per the
committee, there were no contracts, only deeds of purchase. Once the committee
made these determinations, it referred the matter to the appropriate judicial channels
in Mozambique. By early March 1858, the ship was condemned as a slaver and the