Conquest of the Papel-Ruled Kingdom of Bissau

In 1915, the Portuguese military launched its final campaign to subjugate the Papel-ruled Kingdom of Bissau, one of the last strongholds resisting colonial rule in Portuguese Guinea. The Papel people, led by King N’Kanande Ka, had long defied Portuguese control, successfully repelling several attempts at conquest in the 19th and early 20th centuries. However, under the command of João Teixeira Pinto, the Portuguese forces intensified their efforts, backed by heavily armed colonial troops and Wolof mercenary Abdul Injai.On May 13, 1915, Teixeira Pinto issued an ultimatum to King N’Kanande Ka, demanding that the Papel people surrender their weapons and submit to Portuguese rule. The king refused, triggering immediate military action. On May 29, 1915, fighting erupted as the Portuguese attacked Papel fortifications, leading to intense battles at Bandim and Intim, key defensive positions of the kingdom. The resistance was fierce, with the Papel warriors using their deep knowledge of the terrain to counter Portuguese advances.As the battle spread, the Portuguese pushed deeper into Papel territory, facing ambushes and counterattacks. On June 12, 1915, Teixeira Pinto himself was wounded during a Papel ambush at Jaal in Safim, highlighting the intensity of the resistance. However, the Portuguese, using superior weaponry, including modern rifles and artillery, continued their advance, forcing the Papel warriors to retreat toward Bissau.he decisive moment came on July 20, 1915, when the Portuguese launched a final assault on King N’Kanande Ka’s forces. The king, outnumbered and facing logistical challenges, attempted a last stand but was ultimately captured. With his capture, organized Papel resistance crumbled, marking the definitive end of the Kingdom of Bissau’s sovereignty. The conquest of Bissau in 1915 marked a turning point in Portuguese colonial rule in Guinea-Bissau. The once-independent Papel kingdom was fully integrated into Portuguese Guinea, and colonial administration expanded its influence across the territory. However, resentment remained strong among the Papel people, contributing to later nationalist movements that would ultimately lead to Guinea-Bissau’s independence in 1973. #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife #GuineaBissau #PapelPeople #ColonialHistory #Portugal #AfricanResistance