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List of Portuguese colonial forts

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A map of the Portuguese Empire and its claims, strongholds, trade waters, and economic interests.

This article will list all fortifications that were built, partially built, or ordered to be built by the Portuguese throughout the globe. All forts in this list are outside the modern territory of Portugal, and were built for the purpose of colonialism and the Portuguese Empire. Some of the forts were in Portuguese hands for a brief period - often a few years before the Portuguese were expelled, while others were held for centuries.

Portuguese explorers have discovered many lands and the sea routes in the 15th–18th centuries during the Age of Discovery. Along the way they built outposts and fortresses, many of which still exist today all over the world. These forts are often similar in design and are therefore easy to recognize.

List of forts by region

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Africa

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Name Built Condition Image City/Region Current country Historical rulers
EN: Elmina Castle
PT: Castelo de São Jorge da Mina
1482 Intact Elmina Ghana Ghana Portugal (1482–1637)
Netherlands (1637–1872)
Britain (1872–1957)
EN: Fort Cacheu
PT: Forte de Cacheu
1588 Intact Cacheu Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Portugal (1588–1974)
EN: Fort Duke of Braganza
PT: Forte Duque de Bragança
1820 Ruins Ilhéu de Sal Rei Cape Verde Cape Verde Portugal (1820–1975)
EN: Fort Jesus
PT: Forte Jesus de Mombaça
1593–1596 Intact Mombasa Kenya Kenya Portugal (1593–1698, 1728–1729)
Oman (1698–1741, 1837–1895)
Local rule (1741–1837)
Britain (1895–1963)
EN: Fort Saint Anthony
PT: Forte de Santo António
1515 Intact Axim Ghana Ghana Portugal (1515–1642)
Netherlands (1642–1872)
Britain (1872–1957)
EN: Fort Saint Cajetan
PT: Forte de São Caetano de Sofala
1505 Decimated Sofala Mozambique Mozambique Portugal (1505–1975)
EN: Fort Saint Sebastian
PT: Forte de São Sebastião de Xama
1520–1526 Intact Shama Ghana Ghana Portugal (1520–1642)
Netherlands (1642–1872)
Britain (1872–1957)
EN: Fort Saint Sebastian
PT: Forte de São Sebastião
1558 Intact Island of Mozambique Mozambique Mozambique Portugal (1558–1975)
EN: Fort Saint Sebastian
PT: Forte de São Sebastião
1575 Intact São Tomé São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe Portugal (1575–1641, 1644–1975)
Netherlands (1641–1644)
EN: Fortress of Kambambe
PT: Fortaleza de Cambambe
1604 Ruins Cambambe Angola Angola Portugal (1604–1975)
EN: Fortress of Mazagan
PT: Fortaleza de Mazagão
1514 Intact El Jadida Morocco Morocco Portugal (1514–1769)
Morocco (1769–1912)
France (1912–1956)
EN: Fortress of Muxima
PT: Fortaleza da Muxima
1599 Intact Muxima Angola Angola Portugal (1599–1641, 1648–1975)
Netherlands (1641–1648)
EN: Fortress of Saint John the Baptist of Ouidah
PT: Fortaleza de São João Batista de Ajudá
1721 Intact Ouidah Benin Benin Portugal (1721–1961)
EN: Fortress of Saint Joseph Amura
PT: Fortaleza de São José da Amura
1697 Restored Bissau Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Portugal (1697–1974)
EN: Fortress of Saint Michael
PT: Fortaleza de São Miguel
1576 Intact Luanda Angola Angola Portugal (1576–1641, 1648–1975)
Netherlands (1641–1648)
EN: Royal Castle of Mogador
PT: Castelo Real de Mogador
1506 Demolished Essaouira Morocco Morocco Portugal (1506–1510)
EN: Royal Fort of Saint Philip
PT: Forte Real de São Filipe
1587–1593 Intact Cidade Velha Cape Verde Cape Verde Portugal (1587–1975)
EN: Royal Walls of Ceuta
PT: Muralhas Reais de Ceuta
1540s Intact Ceuta Spain Spain Portugal (1415–1668)
EN: Stronghold of Saint Lawrence
PT: Fortim de São Lourenço
1695 Intact Island of São Lourenço Mozambique Mozambique Portugal (1695–1975)

Americas

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Name Built Condition Image City/Region Current country Historical rulers
EN: Fort of Our Lady of Medicines
PT: Forte de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios
1737 Ruins Fernando de Noronha Brazil Brazil Portugal (1737–1822)
EN: Fort of Saint Anthony Barra
PT: Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra
1596 Restored Salvador Brazil Brazil Portugal (1596–1822)
Netherlands (1624–1625)
EN: Fort of Saint Anthony Beyond Carmo
PT: Forte de Santo Antônio Além do Carmo
1695–1703 Intact Salvador Brazil Brazil Portugal (1695–1822)
EN: Fort Saint Anthony of Gurupá
PT: Forte de Santo Antônio de Gurupá
1601–1619 Restored Gurupá Brazil Brazil Netherlands (1601–1623)
Portugal (1623–1822)
EN: Fort of Saint James
PT: Forte de São Diogo
1609 Intact Salvador Brazil Brazil Portugal (1609–1822)
Netherlands (1624–1625)
EN: Fort of Saint Lawrence
PT: Forte de São Lourenço
1631 Restored Itaparica Brazil Brazil Portugal (1631–1822)
Netherlands (1647)
EN: Fort of Saint Marcellus
PT: Forte de São Marcelo
1608–1623 Intact Salvador Brazil Brazil Portugal (1608–1822)
Netherlands (1624–1625)
EN: Fort of Saint Mary
PT: Forte de Santa Maria
1614 Intact Salvador Brazil Brazil Portugal (1614–1822)
Netherlands (1624–1625)
EN: Fort of Saint Michael
PT: Forte de São Miguel
1737 Intact Dieciocho de Julio Uruguay Uruguay Portugal (1737–1763)
Spain (1763–1816)
Portugal (1816–1822)
Brazil (1822–1828)
EN: Fort Santana
PT: Forte de Santana
1775 Ruins Fernando de Noronha Brazil Brazil Portugal (1775–1822)
EN: Fort of the Three Wise Men
PT: Forte dos Reis Magos
1599 Intact Natal Brazil Brazil Portugal (1599–1633, 1654–1822)
Netherlands (1633–1654)
EN: Fortress of the Holy Cross of Anhatomirim
PT: Fortaleza de Santa Cruz de Anhatomirim
1739–1744 Intact Governador Celso Ramos Brazil Brazil
EN: Fortress of the Holy Cross of Barra
PT: Fortaleza de Santa Cruz da Barra
1612 Intact Niterói Brazil Brazil Portugal (1612–1822)
EN: Fortress of Our Lady of the Assumption
PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Assunção
1812 Intact Fortaleza Brazil Brazil Portugal (1812–1822)
EN: Fortress of Our Lady of Conception
PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição
1718 Intact Rio de Janeiro Brazil Brazil Portugal (1718–1822)
EN: Fortress of Our Lady of Pleasures
PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres
1767–1769 Intact Paranaguá Brazil Brazil Portugal (1767–1822)
EN: Fortress of Saint Teresa
PT: Fortaleza de Santa Teresa
1762 Intact Santa Teresa National Park Uruguay Uruguay Portugal (1762–1763)
Spain (1763–1816)
Portugal (1816–1822)
Brazil (1822–1828)

Asia-Pacific

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Name Built Condition Image City/region Current country Historical rulers
EN: Al Jalali Fort
PT: Forte Aljalali
Orig: Forte de São João
1586 Restored Muscat Oman Oman Portugal (1586–1650)
Muscat (1650–1820)
Muscat & Oman (1820–1892)
Britain (1892–1970)
EN: Arippu Fort
PT: Forte Arippu
17th century Ruins Mannar Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Portugal (17th century-1658)
Netherlands (1658–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Balibo Fort
PT: Forte Balibo
1645–1665 Intact Balibo East Timor East Timor Portugal (1645–1975)
Indonesia (1975–1999)
UNTAET (1999–2002)
EN: Batticaloa Fort
PT: Forte Batticaloa
1622–1628 Intact Batticaloa Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Portugal (1622–1638)
Netherlands (1638–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Cabo de Rama Fort
PT: Forte do Cabo da Rama
1763 Ruins Canacona India India Portugal (1763–1961)
EN: Castle of the Waterpoint
PT: Castella de Aguada
Orig: Forte de Bandorá
1640 Intact Mumbai India India Portugal (1640–1661)
Britain (1661–1947)
EN: Chapora Fort
PT: Forte de Chaporá
1717 Ruins Chapora India India Portugal (1717–1961)
EN: Cranganore Fort
PT: Forte de Cranganore
Orig: Fortaleza da São Tomé
1523 Ruins Kodungallur India India Portugal (1523–1662)
Netherlands (1662–1796)
Britain (1796–1947)
EN: Diu Fortress
PT: Fortaleza de Diu
Orig: Fortaleza de São Tomé
1535 Intact Diu India India Portugal (1535–1961)
EN: Dongri Fort
PT: Forte de Dongri[1]
1596 Ruins Mumbai India India Portugal (1596-1739)
Maratha (1739-1818)
Britain (1818–1947)
EN: The Famous
PT: A Famosa
1511 Fragments Malacca Malaysia Malaysia Portugal (1511–1641)
Netherlands (1641–1795, 1818–1824)
Britain (1795–1818, 1824–1956)
Japan (1942–1945)
EN: Fort Al-Mirani
PT: Forte de Almirani
16th century Restored Muscat Oman Oman Portugal (16th century-1650)
Ottoman Empire (1552, 1581–1588)
Muscat (1650–1820)
Muscat & Oman (1820–1892)
Britain (1892–1970)
EN: Fort Anjediva
PT: Forte de Angediva
1505 Demolished Anjediva Island India India Portugal (1505–1961)
EN: Fort Emmanuel
PT: Forte de Manuel
1503 Ruins Kochi India India Portugal (1503–1663)
Netherlands (1663–1795)
Britain (1795–1947)
EN: Fort Kastela
PT: Fortaleza de Ternate
Orig: São João Baptista de Ternate
1522 Ruins Ternate Indonesia Indonesia Portugal (1522–1575)
Ternate (1575–1606)
Spain (1606–1663)
Netherlands (1663–1942, 1945–1946)
Japan (1942–1945)
East Indonesia (1946–1950)
EN: Fort Victoria, Our Lady of Annunciation Fortress
PT: Fortaleza Nossa Senhora de Anunciada
1575 Intact Ambon, Maluku Indonesia Indonesia Portugal (1575–1605)
Netherlands (1605–1946)
Britain (1810–1814)
Japan (1942-1945)
East Indonesia (1946–1950)
Republic of South Maluku (1950)
EN: Fort of Our Lady of the Conception
PT: Forte de Nossa Senhora da Conceição
1515 Fragments Hormuz Iran Iran
EN: Fort Qeshm
PT: Forte de Queixome
1621 Ruins Qeshm Iran Iran Portugal (1621–1622)
EN: Fort St. Anthony of Simbor
PT: Forte de Santo António de Simbor
1722 Restored Simbor India India Portugal (1722–1961)
EN: Fort Tarout
PT: Forte de Tarout
1515–1520 Intact Tarout Island Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Portugal (1515–1559)
EN: Fortress of the Watering Place
PT: Fortaleza da Aguada
1612 Intact Sinquerim India India Portugal (1612–1961)
EN: Galle Fort
PT: Forte de Galle
1584 Intact Galle Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Portugal (1584–1640)
Netherlands (1640–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Ghodbunder Fort
PT: Forte de Ghodbunder
1550–1730 Ruins Thane India India Portugal (1550–1737)
Maratha (1737–1818)
Britain (1818–1947)
EN: Guia Fortress
PT: Fortaleza da Guia
1622–1638 Intact Macau China China Portugal (1622–1999)
EN: Khasab Fort
PT: Forte de Caçapo
17th century Restored Khasab Oman Oman
EN: Korlai Fort
PT: Forte de Korlai
Orig: Fortaleza do Morro de Chaul
1521 Ruins Korlai India India Ahmadnagar (1521–1594)
Portugal (1594–1739)
Maratha (1739–1818)
Britain (1818–1947)
EN: Madh Fort
PT: Forte de Madh
17th century Intact Mumbai India India Portugal (17th century)
Britain (1661–1947)
EN: Malé Fort
PT: Forte de Malé
17th century Demolished Maldives MaldivesMaldives Portugal (1558–1650)
Netherlands (1650–1796)
Britain (1796–1953)
EN: Mormugão fort
PT: Forte de Mormugão
1624 Ruins Mormugao India India Portugal (1624–1961)
EN: Mount Fortress
PT: Fortaleza do Monte
1617–1626 Intact Macau China China Portugal (1617–1999)
EN: Mutrah Fort
PT: Forte de Matara
1580s Intact Muscat Oman Oman Portugal (1580s–1650)
Muscat (1650–1820)
Muscat & Oman (1820–1892)
Britain (1892–1970)
EN: Negombo Fort
PT: Forte de Negombo
17th century Fragments Negombo Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Portugal (17th century–1640)
Netherlands (1640–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Pallipuram Fort
PT: Forte de Paliporto
1503 Intact Kochi India India Portugal (1503–1663)
Netherlands (1663–1795)
Britain (1795–1947)
EN: Pooneryn Fort
PT: Forte de Pooneryn
17th century Ruins Pooneryn Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Portugal (17th century-1658)
Netherlands (1658–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Portuguese Fort
PT: Forte Português
17th century Intact Jepara Regency Indonesia Indonesia Mataram (17th century-1743)
Netherlands (1743–1811, 1814–1942)
Britain (1811–1814)
Japan (1942–1945)
EN: Qal'at al-Bahrain
PT: Forte de Barém
16th century Intact Capital Governorate Bahrain Bahrain Portugal (16th century)
EN: Redoubt of Counselor Jacinto Cândido
PT: Reduto do Conselheiro Jacinto Candido
1655 Intact Batugade East Timor East Timor Portugal (1655–1975)
Indonesia (1975–1999)
UNTAET (1999–2002)
EN: Revdanda Fort
PT: Forte de Revdanda
Orig: Fortaleza de Chaul
1524 Ruins Revdanda India India Portugal (1524–1806)
Maratha (1806–1818)
Britain (1818–1947)
EN: St. Angelo Fort
PT: Forte de Santo Ângelo
1505 Intact Kannur India India
EN: St. Thomas Fort
PT: Forte de São Tomé
1518 Ruins Kollam India India Portugal (1518–1661)
Netherlands (1661–1795)
Britain (1795–1947)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Burnell, John (2007). Bombay in the Days of Queen Anne – Being an Account of the Settlement Also: Burnell's Narrative of his Adventures in Bengal. Read Books. ISBN 9781406755473. Retrieved 22 August 2014.

Notes