1641-1644 : The Third Brazilian War

Here is that story!
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Map 26

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In 1640 Portugal revolted against Spain. In April 1641 the news is known in Brazil. Spain has 7000 men but these soldiers have not been paid for a long time and the supply is deficient.

Spontaneously the Portuguese and the Bretons rise up against the Spaniards. Conan V le Fur remained loyal to Spain but his brother Jean Le Fur (1608-1650) took the lead in the rebellion.

Jean is not a very bright person but he is pushed by those around him. He immediately receives the support of New Brittany Rohan. Gold, rear bases, logistical support and executives.

The Spanish forces fell back on Port Conan and Recife and at the end of 1641 they only controlled a third of the population.

Hercule de Rohan then occupied Fort St Philippe which was evacuated (July 1641).

The pressure increases on the Spanish forces which must evacuate Recife in May 1642. They only control Port Conan.
Their situation seemed desperate when an army of 7,000 Breton militiamen and 1,000 Rohan soldiers arrived in August 1642.

But the Dutch will supply the Spanish to prevent this strategic port from falling into the hands of the Rohan.
Hercule de Rohan then attacks the Dutch. He launched his 17,000 soldiers into harassing actions across the border to disperse the Dutch forces (8,000 soldiers).


The Hercule de Rohan plan of Dutch exhaustion seemed to work when in February 1644 gold was discovered far to the west. Thus begins the Rohan gold rush.

The Rohan must secure control of this remote region. A truce was concluded in August 1644 with the Dutch on an ante-bellum situation.
However Pernambuco is again Portuguese and the Spaniards keep only the region of Port Conan. The rest of New Brittany Le Fur is under Rohan influence.