Information on early Portuguese warships is hard to find, and not much I know on this ship.
Built (I presume) in Portugal in 1701, under the name NOSSA SENHORA DA CONCEIÇÃO.
Ship-of-the-line with an armament of 80 guns.
Crew 700 men.
She took part with the Portuguese navy in the Campaign of Corfu in 1716.
Took part in the Battle of Matapan, South coast Greece on 19 July 1717, at that time she had on board 390 sailors, 220 soldiers and 90 gunners.
The following comes from http://www.worldhistory.com/article.php ... of_Matapan
The battle between the combined Venice, Portugal, Papal States and Malta forces under overall command of the Venetian Admiral Diedo against the Turkish fleet under command of Pasha Ibrahim Pasha.
The Portuguese squadron of 9 warships and 2 branders was under command of the Maltese Belle Fontaine.
Diedo’s 24 sailing ships met up with Pisani’s 24 galleys and the Maltese leader Belle Fontaine’s 9 Portuguese-Maltese ships near Cape Matapan on 02 July 1716. After trying separately to find an advantageous position with respect to the Turks for several weeks, occasionally having to land to find fresh drinking water, the Allied force went to Marathonisi, near the top of the Gulf of Matapan, to got some fresh water. They had tried to make it to Sapenza but adversely winds were against them and they took the risk of being caught in the gulf.
This is what happened.
Despite having the Pisani’s galleys tow the sailing warships of Diedo south, there were not enough galleys, and the Turkish fleet with 52 sailing ships including about 44 ships-of-the-line and 4 galleys, were seen to the south, at the west side of the bay entrance, on 19 July.
With a light wind from the SSE, this meant that they had the advantage. Admiral Diedo, unable to sail to the west of the Turks decided to sail slowly east across the bay.
His fleet of four divisions, the admiral was in the Van of the fleet, which was led by his 2nd, Correr.
The 3rd or Rear Division was commanded by Dolfin.
The 4th or Allied Division was commanded by Belle Fontaine.
The Turkish Admiral Ibrahim with 6 ships attacked the rear Division at about 06am, while the rest of his fleet went ahead and attacked the Van and Centre. At about 12pm the fleets were approaching the west side of the bay, and shortly after the leading ships turned the wind turned from the SE, putting the leading Venetian ships to windward of some of the Turks for the first time. Taking advantage of this, Diedo attacked them and the tough battle continued. At about 3pm the Turks retired, sailing for the Cervi-Cerigo passage, while the Allies sailed for Capa Matapan. Neither side wished to continue the fight.
Each Allied state gave their own ships complete credit for any achievements, some accounts being almost total unreliable, including forces which weren’t present for the battle, etc.
The Venetians lost one ship-of-the-line, being used as a hospital ship and one fireship, many vessels were badly damaged. Their casualties were 223 killed and 357 wounded (some slight dispute over figures). The Turks lost no ships.
Mozambique 1963 5e sg 560, scott 446.