During the first 4 years of the War, Absolutist forces loyal to
Dom Miguel, who had usurped the throne of Portugal, were in control of the Portuguese mainland. While the Liberals loyal to ex-
Emperor of Brazil,
Dom Pedro Duke of Braganza, controlled the
Azores. On 8 July 1832 a fleet of 60 ships under the command of the British Admiral
George Rose Sartorius arrived from the Azores at the
Arnosa de Pampelido beach near Mindelo. Some 7500 men came ashore, including
António Severin de Noronha Count of Vila Flor,
Alexandre Herculano,
Almeida Garrett,
Joaquim António de Aguiar and
José Travassos Valdez. There were also many foreign volunteers : French, Belgian, Polish, Italian, German, Spanish and a British contingent under the command of Colonels
George Lloyd Hodges and
Charles Shaw. The Army was later called
Os Bravos do Mindelo (
The Braves of Mindelo). The Absolutist authorities were caught by surprise and were not able to oppose the landing, nor the occupation of Porto the next day. On 23 July the Liberal Army were able to repulse the Absolutists in the
Battle of Ponte Ferreira, but had to fall back on Porto where they were
besieged for an entire year. ==Honours==