Battle of Casa Forte

The Battle of Casa Forte was the second major clash in the War of Divine Light, fought between Dutch troops and Portuguese militias. The confrontation took place in 1645 and ended in a Portuguese victory.

After the defeat suffered by the Dutch army against the Portuguese in the Battle of Tabocas the Dutch troops marched back to Recife and camped at the Casa Forte mill belonging to Anna Paes. In August 16, the Dutch captain Hendrik van Haus ordered Jan Blaer to occupy the village of Várzea and to search the houses where the families of the revolutionary leaders from Pernambuco lived and finally, to arrest their wives.

The mission returned on the same day, with several prisoners, including Isabel de Góis, wife of Antônio Bezerra, Ana Bezerra, mother-in-law of João Fernandes Vieira, and Maria Luisa de Oliveira, wife of Amaro Lopes, who were imprisoned in the "Casa Forte" (English: Strong House).

Once the news were delivered to the Portuguese army, which was in the vicinity of Tejipió, the commanders João Fernandes Vieira, André Vidal de Negreiros, Henrique Dias and Felipe Camarão, organized their troops and left to help the women from Pernambuco. They would arrive in August 17, after a forced march and a swim across the Capibaribe River at dawn, therefore, only the vanguard could participate at the beginning of the battle.

The Dutch were caught by surprise and a fight began. Their leader, Hendrik van Haus ended up capitulating and was taken captive. After being released in Portugal, he would return to Dutch Brazil where he would die in the Battle of Guararapes. The captain Jan Blaer was also taken captive but the Portuguese decided to execute him while he was being taken to Bahia among other prisoners. The women who had been arrested by the Dutch forces were liberated and the Portuguese succeeded in their objective.