Page "John III of Portugal" Paragraph 39

John III refused to abandon all of the Portuguese North African strongholds, but he had to make choices based on the economic or strategic value of each possession.

John III decided to abandon Safim and Azamor in 1541, followed by Arzila and Alcácer Ceguer in 1549.

The fortresses of Ceuta, Tangiers and Mazagan were strengthened " to face the new military techniques, imposed by the generalization of heavy artillery, combined with light fire weapons and blades ".