Portugal at Sea

This book is the first one in English that lists the history of the Navy, starting from a period prior to the establishment of the nation and covering a chronological arc of nine centuries. Nonetheless, its first edition was already more than ten years old, which prompted this new edition, that includes the most recent developments in missions and organization up to 2021.

And why a book about «Portugal at Sea?» Because it is the sea that defines this country, with its archipelagic configuration and its strategic position facing the Atlantic Ocean, where the sea lines of ommunication from Europe, Africa and the Americas intersect. Furthermore, the history of the Portuguese Navy is closely linked with the country´s history, offering a maritime perspective on Portugal´s past.
In this context, the importance of the Navy is not limited to the knowledge and innovations introduced in nautical sciences in the 15th and 16th centuries, from shipbuilding to cartography or navigation. The Navy´s resilient spirit has led it to continuously reinvent itself. (...)"
(in Preface by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Gouveia e Melo)