This paper deals with the harangue used in a naval context, as presented in 16th century Portuguese overseas historical writing. The first part of the article analyses the way in which such speeches can be integrated – by means of settings – in the narrative discourse. The second part identifies in the harangues different rhetorical topoi and their functions. In short, the intention of this work is to characterize the standard harangue used by captains and Portuguese governors before a naval battle in the Indian Ocean.
