ABSTRACT
Scholars of Portuguese expansion are becoming aware that her hegemony over her empire hinged upon an expertise with two basic tools— caravels and cannon. Swift caravels held the empire together and provided an essential seaborne communications link. The second essential ingredient— artillery— was the tool with which the Portuguese defended themselves against overwhelming enemy forces both on land and at sea. Portuguese victories in Morocco and the ability to sustain tiny garrisons there were in large measure the result of a defensive plan of which artillery was the essential ingredient. This chapter reviews Portugal’s use of artillery in Morocco and the perceptible emphasis after 1500 toward development of anti-personnel guns as opposed to large siege cannon. Whenever activity was noted around the earthen screen and it appeared that another salvo was forthcoming, the Portuguese effort was directed at damaging the piece. A brief invocation to their patroness Saint Barbara, the sign of the cross, and defending gunners discharged their guns almost in unison.
