Portugal (ETW Faction)
| Portugal (ETW Faction) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | Portugal |
| From Game: | Empire: Total War |
| Religion: |  Catholicism |
| Culture: | European |
| Playable: | |
Portugal is an unplayable minor faction in Empire: Total War.
Contents
Overview
Portugal, along with Spain, was one of the first European nations to engage in exploration and colonisation. Beginning in the 15th century when Portuguese explorers such as Vasco da Gama put to sea in search of a southerly passage to India to bypass the various Middle Eastern trade routes that had since been closed to Christian Europe by the Ottoman Empire. By the 16th century these sailors had helped build a huge colonial and trading empire that encompassed the expansive and resource-rich Brazil as well as large swathes of the African coast and trading exclaves throughout Asia. Portugal is considered to be the first nation to have established a truly global empire which, from the capture of North African city of Ceuta in 1415 to the handover of Macau to the People's Republic of China in 1999, was also the longest lasting of the European colonial empires, spanning almost six centuries from beginning to end.
Starting position
Setup
Overall, Portugal plays rather similar to the United Provinces with most early to mid game efforts being directed towards securing trade spots and expanding mostly in the Americas and India. Unlike the United Provinces however, Portugal is surrounded on three sides by the fortified and relatively well-protected Spanish homeland and as such Spain poses a much greater threat, especially in the early game. Unlike its Spanish neighbour, Portugal is (inaccurately) a constitutional monarchy at the start of the game. It is also one of only two European nations that controls territory in the Indian theatre at the start of the Grand Campaign (the other being the United Provinces). In fact, it holds the distinction of being the only minor nation to hold a colony.
Portugal was once indisputably one of the major powers of Europe. However, following the disastrous Iberian Union and the rise of the English and French empires in America and the Dutch in Asia, these days have since come to an end. While still one of the more powerful nations, Portugal at the start of the 18th century, at least in Empire: Total War, is no longer considered one of the 'major nations'. Even so, Portugal remains rather unique as minor factions go, with a presence in multiple theatres at the start of the game.
Portugal starts the game with 2 regions, both of which are relatively lucrative for a nation of its size. Its home region (Portugal, unsurprisingly) is certainly very wealthy for a minor faction. With two towns (a further two to emerge later) and a 5 slot city, it can become quite the powerhouse when fully developed. The region has a single port which can potentially limit the nation's trading and naval capabilities, leaving it very vulnerable should it be blockaded/raided without other sources of income. Similarly, without a second port to build a shipyard, it has no initial way of gaining access to ships of the line. It's second region is the small exclave of Goa in the Indian theatre. With a trading port and a small tea plantation, it provides a decent source of income at the start of the game. As well as these two moderately wealthy provinces, Portugal also starts with two small merchant fleets that are trading sugar and ivory in the Brazil (unfortunately not in the game as a Portuguese province) and Ivory Coast trade theatres respectively.
The only ally of Portugal at the beginning of the game is Great Britain, simulating the historic Anglo-Portuguese Alliance. Beginning with the signing of the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 and still in effect to this day, it is the world's oldest extant alliance. Britain is also one of Portugal's two trading partners, the other being the Mughal Empire with which Portugal maintains friendly relations. With only a single trading port in its home region and all its trade slots already taken, Portugal's only other option for trade at the start of the game is with Spain with which it can do over land.
Opening moves
While their starting position may initially seem like a great strength, a foothold in India and the sugar/ivory trade from the outset, it should be seen as a significant weakness. With units and holdings spanning almost all regions and with very limited army and navy power, Portugal is greatly overextended and vulnerable to attack on all fronts. While the trade fleets bring in a sizeable portion of the Portuguese income, their small size leaves them vulnerable to attack from marauding pirate fleets from turn one. Similarly, the lack of any ability to fortify Goa leaves Portugal extremely vulnerable to war declarations from not just the Maratha Confederacy but also Mysore which, despite its small size, can still seize Goa with ease due to the proximity of their main army to the province.
Both starting trade fleets should be withdrawn from their respective theatres immediately and merged. Unless playing on higher difficulties, this new combined fleet is seldom attacked by pirates and can be redeployed to once again start generating income. As a much rarer resource, it is advised to send the fleet to either the East Indies to collect spices or one of the African theatres for the equally valuable Ivory. Brazil only provides sugar which is generally less valuable and can be acquired in great quantities in provinces in the Americas through plantation buildings.
As both the Maratha Confederacy and Mysore often declare war for Goa within the first few turns, the province should be considered lost from the start. France, at least on normal difficulty, will accept a straight swap of Goa for the Windward Islands in the Caribbean. Whilst this province is slightly less valuable, it still produces a trade good (sugar), it's an island which leaves it far less vulnerable to attack, your Indian army is immediately teleported to Portugal and can be used to reinforce your home garrison and, perhaps most importantly, it provides a nice staging point to launch early invasions of the nearby pirate provinces. As trade will likely come to make up the vast amount of state income, especially in the early game, eradication of the Pirates should be a top priority.
With only a single port in their home region and no others that emerge later on, Portugal, as a nation that relies primarily on trade income, can be extremely vulnerable to blockades. Without a strong navy or other forms of revenue generation, a healthy steady income can be crippled instantly. Similarly, without a second port, Portugal has no way to gain access to ships of the line without sacrificing trade income or acquiring more provinces. A relatively easy way to solve this problem quickly is to conquer the relatively defenceless Barbary States, considering Portugal begins the game at war with them. Their provinces are neither very developed nor produce any trade goods, freeing up their port slots for shipyards without costing income. An easier and much less tedious option would be to start an early war with the Knights of St. John and capture the strategically important island fortress of Malta which already begins the game with a shipyard and, as a Catholic province, is less likely to suffer from problems with rebellion and the need for a garrison as the Muslim Barbary provinces of North Africa.
Portugal (along with Spain, New Spain and Mexico) has access to the powerful galleon unit, a trade ship with stats comparable to that of a Fourth Rate. However, unlike Fourth Rates, their upkeep is considerably lower and they are functionally identical to Indiamen when sat on a trade node. This can give the Portuguese a unique early game trade advantage over other factions, especially before the pirates have been eradicated, as they are in a much better position to safely secure trade spots quickly. Amazingly, unlike Fourth Rates and other ships of equivalent stats, galleons can be built over 3 turns straight from the base level trading port. Trade fleets should not be comprised only of galleons however as their significantly higher upkeep make them much less efficient than Indiamen in generating wealth.
Portugal starts with a weak army and must first upgrade the army encampment in Lisbon into a barracks before being able to recruit better units such as line infantry. Similarly, investing in upgrading the government building slot in Lisbon will open up more recruitment slots to enable faster creation of armies. While Portugal is surrounded entirely by Spain, It does not begin the game at war with them and ofttimes will even accept trade. With careful diplomacy and patience (through the ticking trade relations boost), it is even possible to secure an alliance with them later on should you seek to secure the metropole without having to take on Spain.
Basics at start
- Protectorates – None
- Allies – Great Britain
- Trade Partners – Great Britain, Mughal Empire
- Enemies – Barbary States, Pirates
- Religion – Catholic
- Government – Constitutional Monarchy
- Ruler – Pedro II (King)
- Population – 2,011,373
- Prosperity – Rich
- Prestige – Respected
- Treasury – 7500
- Technology - None
- Missionaries – None
- Rakes – Hugo Spinoza (Portugal), Adriano Chissano (Goa)
- Gentlemen – Vicente Lobato (Portugal)
Europe Theatre
Lisbon, Portugal
- Starting Buildings – Army Encampment, Cannon Foundry, Government Council, Conservatorium, Admiralty
- Infrastructure - Basic Roads
- Population – 1,101,544
- Wealth – 3475
- Religion – Catholicism 100.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Alentejo Farmland (Peasant Farms), Covilhá (Craft Workshops, Weaver), Douro Vineyards (No Building), Évora (School), Porto (Trading Port)
- Later Villages/Ports – Faro (Village), Leiria (Village)
India Theatre
Goa, Goa
- Starting Buildings – Magistrate
- Infrastructure - Basic Roads
- Population – 591,309
- Wealth – 1007
- Religion – Catholicism 50.0%, Hinduism 40.0%, Buddhism 10.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Barcelor (Trading Port), Yellapur Plantations (Small Tea Plantation)
- Later Villages/Ports – None
AI Portugal
The in-game AI tends to have Spain annex Portugal very early in the game, leaving Goa to be taken by the Maratha Confederacy or Mysore. However, with a relatively powerful home region and a tendency to strengthen their presence in the various trade theatres, Portugal can become quite powerful if left alone. They may soon develop into a powerful minor nation, and are likely to cause trouble for Spain sooner or later.
Since it is often attacked by Spain relatively quickly, a Britain player must often make the difficult choice of either abandoning its ally, or declaring an early war on the powerful Spanish Empire.
Units
Portugal can train the standard European infantry, cavalry and artillary unit roster.
Special Units
Portugal shares most of Spain's unique units, such as Frontiersmen, Irish Brigades, Cazadores and Galleons. Portugal also has a special unit that can only be trained by them from the start of the game, Miquelets. This makes Portugal, along with Scotland (who can recruit Clansmen) and Norway (who can recruit Mountain Troops), one of the only minor factions with unique special units.
Trivia
- Portugal is the only minor unplayable faction in the game to start with both a five-slot city and a colony, Venice & the Thirteen Colonies also begin with a five-slot city however they are confined to their home theatres.
- It is also the only European nation to start with territory on the Indian subcontinent but not the only European nation in the Indian theatre however as the United Provinces holds Ceylon.
- Like many unplayable factions, Portugal has a fog of war glitch which prevents the player seeing their units until they are moved, this can be removed however via modding of the startpos file.
- Portugal in Empire: Total War is a constitutional monarchy when historically the nation was an absolute monarchy up until 1820.
- The flag used in the game was historically used by Portugal between 1816-1830. The flag used during the 1700s did not feature an armillary sphere and the coat of arms was less 'rounded'.
- Historically, the country was briefly known as the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves between 1815-1825.
