Portugal's Secret War in the Pacific: The Battle of Macau

The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History · Sep 28, 2026 · 7m · transcript

While most history lessons focus on Portugal’s spice routes to India, their foothold in East Asia was equally precarious and vital. In this episode, we explore the defense of Macau against the Dutch East India Company during the Eighty Years' War. We look at how a tiny garrison of Portuguese soldiers, aided by Ming Chinese troops, repelled a massive naval assault in 1622. This story highlights the complex diplomacy between Lisbon and Beijing, the role of Jesuit intermediaries like Matteo Ricci, and the strategic importance of Macau as a trade hub connecting Japan, China, and Europe. Join…