The Kingdom of Kongo, in addition to…
1579 CE
The Kingdom of Kongo, in addition to allowing the Portuguese to establish themselves in Luanda, provides the Portuguese with support in their war against the Kingdom of Ndongo, located in the interior east of Luanda, when Portugual goes to war with it in 1579.
King Álvaro also works hard to westernize Kongo, gradually introducing European style titles for his nobles, so that the Mwene Nsundi becomes the Duke of Nsundi, the Mwene Mbamba the Duke of Mbamba or the Mwene Mpemba, the Marquis of Mpemba, and the Mwene Soyo the Count of Soyo.
He and his son Álvaro II Nimi a Nkanga begin an order of chivalry, the Order of Christ, and rename the capital city—"the city of Congo" (cidade de Congo)—São Salvador (Portuguese: "Holy Savior").