This letter (which should be read in conjunction with Doc. 46) from the Kongo king to his ambassador in Rome, reflects a very disturbed period of Kongo – Portuguese relations and also growing conflict within the Portuguese community itself. After years of unsuccessful campaigning on the Cuanza River, the Portuguese had made an alliance with the Imbangala chiefs (the ‘Jaga’) and, with their support, had begun the conquest not only of territory of the Ngola a Kiluanje, but of the hinterland of Luanda itself. The main objectives of these wars was to destabilize the African kingdoms and obtain captives to send as slaves to Brazil. The governor, João Correia de Sousa, successfully defeated the Mani Kasanze, a tributary of Kongo, executed the chief and exiled his elders to Brazil. When Dom Pedro succeeded to the throne of Kongo in 1622, he was not recognized by the Portuguese, who took the opportunity to invade the kingdom. The Portuguese and Imbangala army overran Mbamba, and won a major victory in which the Manimbamba and ninety of the Mwissikongo aristocracy were killed, although they were subsequently defeated with the arrival of the main Kongolese forces. […]