Why Play Portugal?
Portugal offers the perfect introduction to EU5's colonization mechanics while providing a clear path to becoming the world's richest nation through maritime trade and colonial extraction. Despite starting as a smaller Iberian power, Portugal's unique advantages in exploration and naval mechanics allow you to dominate global trade routes and build a massive overseas empire that generates unprecedented wealth.
Strategic Advantages
- → Head Start on Colonization: Early Iberian Caravel technology and exploration bonuses give you first access to prime colonial territories
- → Safe Starting Position: Minimal early threats with Castile and Aragon as natural allies, allowing focus on economic development
- → Maritime Dominance: Coastal geography and naval focus make maritime presence your core strength for controlling distant colonies
- → Trade Wealth Path: Colonial extraction economy transforms Portugal from poor to richest nation through gold, dyes, and resource monopolies
- → Personal Union Opportunities: Strategic royal marriages can secure Aragon and England as junior partners
- → Beginner-Friendly Learning: Perfect nation for mastering POP-based colonization, maritime mechanics, and trade systems
Starting Situation (1337)
Initial Diplomatic Situation
- • No starting allies — must secure Castile and Aragon immediately (ally both even if they rival each other)
- • Safe geographic position with minimal early threats
- • Morocco holds Iberian territory (expansion target)
- • Granada available for conquest with ally support
Economic Challenges
- • Losing money monthly from the start
- • Weakest market in Iberia (Lisboa significantly behind Sevilla/Burgos)
- • Low population compared to Castile/France/England
- • Limited cabinet members (personnel shortage)
Military & Infrastructure
- • Start below fort limit (soft cap based on cities + country rank)
- • Excess forts draining maintenance budget
- • Only one city: Lisboa
- • +10% infantry power unique bonus from start
- • Early Iberian Caravel technology (unique light ship advantage)
Opening Setup & First Month Priorities
Opening Month Checklist
Improve Relations: Castile & Aragon
Secure both as allies immediately (even if they rival each other). Send alliance offers once relations improve.
Delete Excess Forts
Keep only strategic coastal forts and provincial capital fort. Delete inland forts draining maintenance.
Cabinet Assignments
1) Strengthen Government (military action). 2) Increase Provincial Control in RGO provinces (NOT capital — focus high-value production provinces).
Grant Naval Estate Privilege
Push toward naval societal value for maritime presence bonuses (critical for Portugal's coastal control).
Set Up Trade Routes
Auto-assign profitable trade routes and temporary building material needs. Focus on profit early.
Begin Curry Favors (Castile & Aragon)
Once allied, curry favors for "Invite Settler" action later (240 pops over 2 years per use — every pop matters!).
CRITICALDiplomatic Security
- → Improve relations with Castile and Aragon simultaneously (both are essential allies)
- → Send alliance offers once opinion reaches acceptable threshold
- → Accept if they rival each other — you need both for early wars and settler invitations
- → Begin currying favors immediately after alliance (Invite Settler action requires 10 favors)
CRITICALEconomic Foundation
- → Delete excess forts for immediate +3 to +5 ducats/month savings
- → Cabinet: Provincial control focus on high-value RGO provinces (control = actual tax received)
- → Set up auto-trade for profitability (manual optimization comes later)
- → Grant naval estate privilege to push maritime presence value (long-term investment)
Early Economy Strategy
CRITICALBuilding Priority
- → Marketplaces everywhere first — 100% profit building, focus Lisboa then expand outward
- → Protected Harbors in coastal provinces — increases maritime presence (critical for Portugal's control system)
- → RGOs targeting market shortages — check Lisboa market demand tab, prioritize lumber mills first
- → Roads come AFTER initial expansion — Portugal benefits more from maritime presence than land proximity
OPTIONALTrade Route Setup
- → Use auto-trade initially for profit optimization
- → Manually review Lisboa market to identify shortages driving down control
- → Establish specific trade routes for food and building materials to support RGO construction
- → Transition to manual trade management as you understand market dynamics
CRITICALCrown Power & Control
- → Maintain 40%+ crown power early (directly multiplies trade income)
- → Cabinet assignments to increase provincial control in RGO provinces (control = actual output received)
- → Push naval societal value via estate privileges for maritime presence bonuses
- → Rush 100 stability for doubled pop promotion speed
Early Expansion & Wars (1337-1380)
CRITICALMorocco Conquest Priority
- → Morocco holds Algarve (southern Portuguese lands) — this is your immediate claim and casus belli
- → Attack Morocco with Castile/Aragon allies around 1340s-1350s once alliance secured
- → Reclaim Algarve first war, then expand into northern Morocco territories in follow-up wars
- → Beware malaria — Morocco has disease outbreaks that can decimate armies, keep supply lines short
OPTIONALGranada Participation
- → Join Castile's wars against Granada as war ally for favors and prestige
- → Portugal doesn't need Granada land directly (Castile takes it), but participation maintains alliance strength
- → Use these wars to gain combat experience and test levy composition
- → Curry additional favors during war for future Invite Settler usage
CRITICALWar Timing & Alliance Coordination
- → Never attack Morocco without Castile/Aragon allied — you need their manpower
- → Wait until economy is stabilized (+5 ducats/month minimum) before major wars
- → Coordinate with Castile's war timing — if they're fighting Aragon, wait for their availability
- → Use Claims on Province CB when available for reduced warscore costs
Island Colonization Phase (1360-1400)
Island colonization is Portugal's stepping stone to New World dominance. These Atlantic islands (Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde, Canaries) serve as naval bases, pop staging grounds, and maritime presence projection platforms. Master this phase before attempting transatlantic exploration.
Island Priority Timeline
1360s: Madeira
Closest island chain, easiest to control via maritime presence. Colonize first for quick win.
1370s: Azores
Critical mid-Atlantic naval base. Required for later New World exploration reach.
1380s-1390s: Cape Verde
Staging ground for African coastal exploration. Supports later West African trade post expansion.
1390s-1400s: Canaries (Optional)
May be contested by Castile. Negotiate diplomatically or race to colonize first.
CRITICALIsland Colonization Mechanics
- → Sea charter exploration required to discover islands before colonization
- → Send 50-100 pops via colonial migration to establish initial settlement
- → Build protected harbors in island provinces for maritime control sustainability
- → Assign light ship patrol fleets to sea tiles around islands for reduced proximity cost
Age of Discovery & New World Preparation (1400-1450)
The 1400-1450 period is Portugal's strategic window to establish New World dominance before France and England develop competitive colonial capability. This requires systematic preparation across technology, economy, and maritime infrastructure.
Preparation Checklist (1400-1420)
Unlock Renaissance Ship Technology
Advanced caravels and navigation advances required for safe transatlantic crossing.
Build Economic Surplus (+30 ducats/month)
New World exploration costs 15-25 ducats/month in ship maintenance and sea charter expenses.
Establish Light Ship Fleet Network
7-10 patrol fleets covering Atlantic routes from Lisboa → Azores → Caribbean approach.
Complete Island Colonization
Madeira, Azores, and Cape Verde fully colonized and producing tax income.
Secure Continuous Invite Settler Usage
Maintain 10+ favors with Castile/Aragon for sustained pop injections during colonial migration.
Push Naval Value to 70+
Maritime presence multiplier must be high enough to control Caribbean/Brazilian colonies.
CRITICALExploration Timing
- → Do NOT explore before 1420 — costs are prohibitive relative to economic strength
- → 1420-1430: Begin systematic sea charter exploration of Caribbean, Brazilian coast, and West African routes
- → Explore multiple routes simultaneously (9-12 sea charters at once) — wealth by 1420s makes this trivial
- → 1430-1450: Colonization execution phase — send pops to discovered territories before France/England arrive
Why This Guide is Accurate
This guide is based on actual gameplay testing by experienced EU5 players and validated against content from top EU5 community members including Absolute Habibi (contract QA & community team member) and GeneralistGaming.
Version Accuracy:
Guide written for EU5 version 1.0.8. Mechanics and strategies are current as of this patch. Maritime presence, colonization mechanics, POP migration systems, and Treaty of Tordesillas may change in future updates.
