Ordenanças

The Ordenanças (meaning literally "Ordinances" in Portuguese and sometimes spelled Ordenanzas in English language literature) were a traditional military territorial organization that existed in Portugal and in some parts of the Portuguese Empire (specially in Brazil), between the 15th and the 19th centuries.

After some failed attempts made before, the Ordenanças were created on the 10 December, 1570, by King Sebastian of Portugal, as the basis of what would be a national army. They were organized in territorial captaincies (capitanias), each in charge of a captain-major (capitão-mor). Each captaincy covered the area of a city, town or municipality and included several Ordenanças companies. An Ordenanças company included 250 men, headed by a captain. The captain-majors were appointed by the respective municipal councils or, in areas where an alcaide (castle governor) existed, he assumed that role. In each region, the organization of the Ordenanças would reflect the local social organization, with the command roles being usually assumed by the most notable local residents.

For the King Sebastian's Morocco Campaign of 1578, the organization of the Ordenanças is already able to mobilize 32 active companies with a total of around 8000 men, that constitute four terços (regiments) of the Portuguese expeditionary army.

During the period of the Iberian Union (1580-1640), the Ordenanças declined, but they were revived after the Restoration of the Portuguese Independence.

For the Portuguese Restoration War (1640-1668), in addition to the revival of the Ordenanças, units of Paid Troops and units of Auxiliary Troops (latter called "Militias") were also created. These became, respectively, the first and second line of the Portuguese Army, with the Ordenanças becoming its third line and being increasingly employed as a kind of home guard and reserve for the conscription of soldiers for the paid and auxiliary troops.

Although mainly used as conscription reserve since the creation of the Auxiliary Troops in 1646, active units of Ordenanças were created for the national defense in some war periods. Some of these units acted as guerrilla forces in their respective areas, attacking the rearguard and the logistic lines of the enemy invader armies. Active units of the Ordenanças were also employed in the reinforcement of cities and fortress garrisons. Namely, in the Peninsular War, units of Ordenanças constituted a greater part of the garrison of the forts of the Lines of Torres Vedras, including being responsible for the manning most of its artillery.

The Ordenanças were finally extinct on the 24 March, 1831, its role being partially assumed by the then created National Guard.