Portuguese Military Garrison in Macao

The triumph of the Portuguese over the Dutch invasion of Macao in 1622 had inspired the enthusiasm of Portuguese residents in Macao to enlist in the army. The Portuguese administration of the city also decided to let many more slaves to be part of the armed forces. This had greatly increased the number of soldiers in Macao by then. From late 18th century to mid-19th century, the colonial government of Portuguese Goa in India sent small dispatch of soldiers to Macao intermittently. With the backup forces from Goa, the slaves, prisoners of war and irregular military personnel that made up the Portuguese military garrison in Macao were gradually replaced by professional soldiers who had gone through rigorous military training. By the 20th century, the majority of soldiers of the Portuguese military garrison in Macao were from Portuguese African colonies. At the time when the Portuguese military garrison withdrew from Macao in 1975, the city was left without an army other than the police forces.