Portcullis. In heraldry, the portcullis is represented with rings at its uppermost angles, from which chains depend on either side. It was a badge of the Beaufort family, and borne in virtue of their Beaufort descent by their Tudor sovereigns. Portcullis is the title of one of the pursuviants belonging to the English College of Arms, whose office was instituted by Henry VII.
Port-fire. See [Laboratory Stores].
Portfolio. A portable case for keeping loose papers in. Hence, also, the office and functions of a minister of state or member of the cabinet; as, to receive the portfolio of war.
Portglave. An ancient name for a sword-bearer.
Portland Isle. An island off the coast of Dorset, England, which was fortified before 1142.
Porto (or Puerto) Bello. A seaport town of South America, on the north coast of the Isthmus of Darien.
Porto Novo. A seaport of British India, in the Presidency of Madras, at the mouth of the Vellaur. It suffered severely in the wars of the British government against Mysore, and fell into a state of decay. At Porto Novo, Hyder Ali, with an immensely superior army, was totally defeated by the British under Sir Eyre Coote in 1791.
Porto Rico. A Spanish possession, one of the group of West India Islands called the Great Antilles. Porto Rico was invaded in 1509 by Spaniards from Hayti, and the natives were soon exterminated by them. Towards the end of the 17th century the island was captured by the British, but was abandoned by them soon afterwards. In 1820 a revolution took place in Porto Rico, which was finally put down in 1823.
Portugal (anc. Lusitania). A kingdom in the southwest of Europe, forming the western part of the Spanish peninsula. After nine years’ struggle, under Viriathes, a brave and able leader, the Lusitanians submitted to the Roman arms about 137 B.C. In the 5th century the Suevi, Vandals, and Visigoths became possessors of the country. In the beginning of the 8th century Portugal shared the fate of Spain, and was overrun by the Moors. After a long struggle, during which many battles were fought, and many illustrious deeds achieved, the Portuguese monarchy was formally established by the Cortes at Lamego in 1143, with Alfonso I. (of the Burgundian house) as king. The immediate successors of Alfonso I. were engaged in many severe struggles with the clergy, who were always ready to combine against the sovereign; but on the whole, the dignity of the kingdom was well maintained by the representatives of this family, who are, moreover, distinguished as the promoters and upholders of the maritime glory of Portugal. Alfonso, surnamed “the Brave,” ascended the throne in 1325, and his reign was almost wholly occupied in wars with the Castilians and the Moslems. With his grandson, Ferdinand I., the legitimate branch of the Burgundian house became extinct in 1383. During the reign of John II., the Azores, Madeira, Cape de Verde, and other islands were seized. The discovery of Brazil and the settlements made there and on the western coast of India increased the maritime power and fame of Portugal, which were further extended under John III., who ascended the throne in 1521, and during whose reign the Inquisition was introduced. At this period Portugal ranked as one of the most powerful monarchies in Europe. Sebastian (grandson of John III.), urged by the Jesuits, entered upon a fatal expedition to Africa against the infidels. The defeat of the Portuguese, and the capture and death of their young king at the battle of Alcazar in 1578, and the extinction of the old Burgundian line in 1580, plunged the country into difficulties and misfortunes of every kind. Philip II. of Spain succeeded in securing to himself the crown of Portugal, and annexing the Portuguese kingdom to the Spanish monarchy. This event proved disastrous in the extreme to Portugal, involving it in all the ruinous wars of Spain in the Low Countries and in Germany, the greater part of the expenses of which it bore; while the Dutch, in retaliation for Spanish aggression at home, attacked the Portuguese settlements in Brazil, and almost completely deprived them of their possessions in the Indian Archipelago. In 1640, after a forced union of 160 years, Portugal was freed, by a bold and successful conspiracy of the nobles, from all connection with Spain, and the Duke de Braganza placed on the throne, under the title of John IV. The war with Spain, which was the natural result of this act, terminated in 1668, when by the treaty of Lisbon, the independence of Portugal was formally recognized by the Spanish government. For the next hundred years, Portugal vegetated in a state of inglorious apathy. It was invaded by the French in 1807,—a measure which gave rise to the Peninsular war. The victory of Vimeira, gained by the combined English and Portuguese army in 1808, freed the land from its French assailants. A revolution broke out in Lisbon in 1820. In 1832, Dom Pedro raised a fleet and made a landing at Oporto. Admiral Napier in the mean while operated on the coast of Algarve successfully in favor of the young queen Doña Maria de Gloria, whose cause, by these victories and the support of an alliance with the great powers, finally proved victorious. Doña Maria made her entry into Lisbon in 1833; and in the following year Dom Miguel (who had disputed the throne) signed the convention of Evora, by which he renounced all pretensions to the throne. During the reign of Doña Maria insurrections and counter-insurrections were of frequent occurrence, the troops were not to be depended on in moments of emergency; guerrilla bands scoured the country at will, and openly defied the queen’s authority. An armed intervention of the great powers in 1847 produced a partial abatement of the national disorders; but the queen’s partiality for her unpopular ministers, Count Thomar and his brother Cabral, led to the insurrection which, without bloodshed, made the national idol, the Marquis de Saldanha, de facto military dictator of Portugal. The eldest son of the queen ascended the throne in 1853, as Pedro V., under the regency of the king-consort his father. The latter used his power discreetly, and the financial disorders were partially adjusted, and since that period the general condition of the nation is more promising.
Positions, Military. The sites occupied by armies, either for the purpose of covering and defending certain tracts of country, or preparatory to the commencement of offensive operations against an enemy. A position is considered as advantageously chosen when it is on elevated ground; when it is not commanded by eminences within the range of artillery; and when, from the existence of natural obstacles, as rivers or marshes, on the wings, it is incapable of being turned,—that is, the enemy cannot, without making an extensive movement, get to the rear of the army by which the position is occupied. In the event of such points of support being wanting, the position, whether it be a plain or an eminence, should have its flanks protected by villages, or by redoubts raised for the purpose. A village, or even a single building, on the ground occupied by the army, may become the key of the position; and as, not unfrequently, on the preservation of this point depends the field of battle, such point should be well supported by troops and artillery. The highest point of ground, particularly if near the lines of operation, may also constitute the key, and is usually strengthened by one or more redoubts. Artillery should always be placed where it can act with the most effect; and when the ground occupied by an army presents alternately salient and retired points along the front of the line, the batteries should be placed at such points. Infantry may occupy any kind of ground, but should, if possible, always form a close line. It is usually placed between the batteries; and if exposed to a distant cannonade, the troops may be drawn up in a trench, the earth from which will serve to cover them without preventing them from marching out in line to meet the enemy. Cavalry must be posted on a level plain, over which it may advance with regularity when a charge is to be made; if compelled to act on broken ground, it is formed in small detachments behind the infantry, through whose intervals it may pass at proper opportunities. The power of readily appreciating the character of ground for military purposes is what is called by foreign writers the military coup d’œil; and this can only be acquired by a profound knowledge of military tactics of war, joined to much experience in the practice of executing military surveys, and of contemplating the appearance of ground from all possible points of view.