List of Portuguese colonial forts

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A map of the Portuguese Empire and its claims, strongholds, trade waters, and economic interests. Portugal Imperio total.png
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.

Contents

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. Similar in design they are often easy to recognize although not in Portuguese hands for many years or centuries already.

List of forts by region

Africa

NameBuiltConditionImageCity/RegionCurrent countryHistorical rulers
EN: Elmina Castle
PT: Castelo de São Jorge da Mina
1482Intact St. Georges Castle Elmina Cape Coast.jpg Elmina Flag of Ghana.svg GhanaPortugal (1482–1637)
Netherlands (1637–1872)
Britain (1872–1957)
EN: Fort Cacheu
PT: Forte de Cacheu
1588Intact Cacheu statues in fortress.jpg Cacheu Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg Guinea-Bissau Portugal (1588–1974)
EN: Fort Duke of Braganza
PT: Forte Duque de Bragança
1820Ruins Ilhéu de Sal Rei Flag of Cape Verde.svg Cape VerdePortugal (1820–1975)
EN: Fort Jesus
PT: Forte Jesus de Mombaça
1593–1596Intact Fort JesusMombasa.jpg Mombasa Flag of Kenya.svg KenyaPortugal (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
1515Intact Overzicht bovenop bastion rechts voor met zicht op beide hoger gelegen bouwdelen - Axim - 20374980 - RCE.jpg Axim Flag of Ghana.svg GhanaPortugal (1515–1642)
Netherlands (1642–1872)
Britain (1872–1957)
EN: Fort Saint Cajetan
PT: Forte de São Caetano de Sofala
1505Decimated Sofala (1666).jpg Sofala Flag of Mozambique.svg MozambiquePortugal (1505–1975)
EN: Fort Saint Sebastian
PT: Forte de São Sebastião de Xama
1520–1526Intact Fort St Sebastian - Close up.jpg Shama Flag of Ghana.svg GhanaPortugal (1520–1642)
Netherlands (1642–1872)
Britain (1872–1957)
EN: Fort Saint Sebastian
PT: Forte de São Sebastião
1558Intact Fort Sao Sebastiao.gif Island of Mozambique Flag of Mozambique.svg MozambiquePortugal (1558–1975)
EN: Fort Saint Sebastian
PT: Forte de São Sebastião
1575Intact Sao tome fort.jpg São Tomé Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg São Tomé and PríncipePortugal (1575–1641, 1644–1975)
Netherlands (1641–1644)
EN: Fortress of Kambambe
PT: Fortaleza de Cambambe
1604Ruins Cambambe Flag of Angola.svg AngolaPortugal (1604–1975)
EN: Fortress of Mazagan
PT: Fortaleza de Mazagão
1514Intact Forteresse Jadida 03.JPG El Jadida Flag of Morocco.svg MoroccoPortugal (1514–1769)
Morocco (1769–1912)
France (1912–1956)
EN: Fortress of Muxima
PT: Fortaleza da Muxima
1599Intact Muxima Flag of Angola.svg AngolaPortugal (1599–1641, 1648–1975)
Netherlands (1641–1648)
EN: Fortress of Saint John the Baptist of Ouidah
PT: Fortaleza de São João Batista de Ajudá
1721Intact Sao Joao Baptista de Ajuda 1886.jpg Ouidah Flag of Benin.svg BeninPortugal (1721–1961)
EN: Fortress of Saint Joseph Amura
PT: Fortaleza de São José da Amura
1697Restored Bissau Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg Guinea-BissauPortugal (1697–1974)
EN: Fortress of Saint Michael
PT: Fortaleza de São Miguel
1576Intact Luanda-SMiguelFort2.jpg Luanda Flag of Angola.svg AngolaPortugal (1576–1641, 1648–1975)
Netherlands (1641–1648)
EN: Royal Castle of Mogador
PT: Castelo Real de Mogador
1506Demolished Castelo Real Adriaen Matham 1641.jpg Essaouira Flag of Morocco.svg MoroccoPortugal (1506–1510)
EN: Royal Fort of Saint Philip
PT: Forte Real de São Filipe
1587–1593Intact CidadeVelha-SaoFelipe2.jpg Cidade Velha Flag of Cape Verde.svg Cape VerdePortugal (1587–1975)
EN: Royal Walls of Ceuta
PT: Muralhas Reais de Ceuta
1540sIntact Murallas Reales, Ceuta, Espana, 2015-12-10, DD 81-83 HDR.JPG Ceuta Flag of Spain.svg SpainPortugal (1415–1668)
EN: Stronghold of Saint Lawrence
PT: Fortim de São Lourenço
1695Intact Fort Sao Lourenco - Mozambique Island.jpg Island of São Lourenço Flag of Mozambique.svg MozambiquePortugal (1695–1975)

Americas

NameBuiltConditionImageCity/RegionCurrent countryHistorical rulers
EN: Fort of Our Lady of Medicines
PT: Forte de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios
1737Ruins Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Remedios.jpg Fernando de Noronha Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilPortugal (1737–1822)
EN: Fort of Saint Anthony Barra
PT: Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra
1596Restored Farol da Barra-02.jpg Salvador Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilPortugal (1596–1822)
Netherlands (1624–1625)
EN: Fort of Saint Anthony Beyond Carmo
PT: Forte de Santo Antônio Além do Carmo
1695–1703Intact Forte de Santo Antonio Alem do Carmo.jpg Salvador Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilPortugal (1695–1822)
EN: Fort Saint Anthony of Gurupá
PT: Forte de Santo Antônio de Gurupá
1601–1619Restored Fort of Santo Antonio de Gurupa - IPHAN Picture 3.jpg Gurupá Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilNetherlands (1601–1623)
Portugal (1623–1822)
EN: Fort of Saint James
PT: Forte de São Diogo
1609Intact Forte s diogo vista aerea salvador.jpg Salvador Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilPortugal (1609–1822)
Netherlands (1624–1625)
EN: Fort of Saint Lawrence
PT: Forte de São Lourenço
1631Restored Forte de Sao Lourenco, Itaparica 01.jpg Itaparica Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilPortugal (1631–1822)
Netherlands (1647)
EN: Fort of Saint Marcellus
PT: Forte de São Marcelo
1608–1623Intact Vista aerea do Forte de Sao Marcelo.jpg Salvador Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilPortugal (1608–1822)
Netherlands (1624–1625)
EN: Fort of Saint Mary
PT: Forte de Santa Maria
1614Intact SantaMariaFortress.jpg Salvador Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilPortugal (1614–1822)
Netherlands (1624–1625)
EN: Fort of Saint Michael
PT: Forte de São Miguel
1737Intact Fuerte San Miguel 4.jpg Dieciocho de Julio Flag of Uruguay.svg UruguayPortugal (1737–1763)
Spain (1763–1816)
Portugal (1816–1822)
Brazil (1822–1828)
EN: Fort Santana
PT: Forte de Santana
1775Ruins 2009 fev 10 forte santana.JPG Fernando de Noronha Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Portugal (1775–1822)
EN: Fort of the Three Wise Men
PT: Forte dos Reis Magos
1599Intact Forte-reis-magos.jpg Natal Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilPortugal (1599–1633, 1654–1822)
Netherlands (1633–1654)
EN: Fortress of the Holy Cross of Anhatomirim
PT: Fortaleza de Santa Cruz de Anhatomirim
1739–1744Intact Fortaleza de Anhatomirim.jpg Governador Celso Ramos Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
EN: Fortress of the Holy Cross of Barra
PT: Fortaleza de Santa Cruz da Barra
1612Intact Fortaleza de Santa Cruz vista do Forte do Pico.jpg Niterói Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilPortugal (1612–1822)
EN: Fortress of Our Lady of the Assumption
PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Assunção
1812Intact Forte de Nossa Senhora de Assuncao.jpg Fortaleza Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilPortugal (1812–1822)
EN: Fortress of Our Lady of Conception
PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição
1718Intact Fortaleza da Conceicao 04.jpg Rio de Janeiro Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilPortugal (1718–1822)
EN: Fortress of Our Lady of Pleasures
PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres
1767–1769Intact BR-Brasil, Parana, Paranagua, Ilha do Mel, Fortaleza Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres-7291.jpg Paranaguá Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilPortugal (1767–1822)
EN: Fortress of Saint Teresa
PT: Fortaleza de Santa Teresa
1762Intact Fortaleza ST.jpg Santa Teresa National Park Flag of Uruguay.svg UruguayPortugal (1762–1763)
Spain (1763–1816)
Portugal (1816–1822)
Brazil (1822–1828)

Asia-Pacific

NameBuiltConditionImageCity/regionCurrent countryHistorical rulers
EN: Al Jalali Fort
PT: Forte Aljalali
Orig: Forte de São João
1586Restored Old Muscat (2).jpg Muscat Flag of Oman.svg OmanPortugal (1586–1650)
Muscat (1650–1820)
Muscat & Oman (1820–1892)
Britain (1892–1970)
EN: Arippu Fort
PT: Forte Arippu
17th centuryRuins Mannar Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Sri LankaPortugal (17th century-1658)
Netherlands (1658–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Balibo Fort
PT: Forte Balibo
1645–1665Intact Forte Portugues, porta principal.jpg Balibo Flag of East Timor.svg East TimorPortugal (1645–1975)
Indonesia (1975–1999)
UNTAET (1999–2002)
EN: Batticaloa Fort
PT: Forte Batticaloa
1622–1628Intact Batticaloa Portuguese fort.jpg Batticaloa Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Sri LankaPortugal (1622–1638)
Netherlands (1638–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Cabo de Rama Fort
PT: Forte do Cabo da Rama
1763Ruins Cabo da Rama 839.jpg Canacona Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1763–1961)
EN: Castle of the Waterpoint
PT: Castella de Aguada
Orig: Forte de Bandorá
1640Intact Bandra-fort-mumbai.jpg Mumbai Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1640–1661)
Britain (1661–1947)
EN: Chapora Fort
PT: Forte de Chaporá
1717Ruins Fort Chapora 26012016.jpg Chapora Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1717–1961)
EN: Cranganore Fort
PT: Forte de Cranganore
Orig: Fortaleza da São Tomé
1523Ruins Cranganorefort.jpg Kodungallur Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1523–1662)
Netherlands (1662–1796)
Britain (1796–1947)
EN: Diu Fortress
PT: Fortaleza de Diu
Orig: Fortaleza de São Tomé
1535Intact Entryramparts.jpg Diu Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1535–1961)
EN: Dongri Fort
PT: Forte de Dongri [1]
1596Ruins Dongri Fort 2.jpg Mumbai Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1596-1739)
Maratha (1739-1818)
Britain (1818–1947)
EN: The Famous
PT: A Famosa
1511Fragments A Famosa Fortress.JPG Malacca Flag of Malaysia.svg 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 centuryRestored Muscat Fort.jpg Muscat Flag of Oman.svg OmanPortugal (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
1505Demolished Forte de Anjediva.gif Anjediva Island Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1505–1961)
EN: Fort Emmanuel
PT: Forte de Manuel
1503Ruins Fort cochin relics.jpg Kochi Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1503–1663)
Netherlands (1663–1795)
Britain (1795–1947)
EN: Fort Kastela
PT: Fortaleza de Ternate
Orig: São João Baptista de Ternate
1522Ruins Ruins of Kastella, Ternate.jpg Ternate Flag of Indonesia.svg IndonesiaPortugal (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
1575Intact Benteng Victoria.jpg Ambon, Maluku Flag of Indonesia.svg IndonesiaPortugal (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
1515Fragments Portuguese Castle (Hormuz).jpg Hormuz Flag of Iran.svg Iran
EN: Fort Qeshm
PT: Forte de Queixome
1621Ruins Qeshm Portuguese Castle.jpg Qeshm Flag of Iran.svg IranPortugal (1621–1622)
EN: Fort St. Anthony of Simbor
PT: Forte de Santo António de Simbor
1722Restored Simbor Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1722–1961)
EN: Fort Tarout
PT: Forte de Tarout
1515–1520Intact PANO 20160923 170835.jpg Tarout Island Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi ArabiaPortugal (1515–1559)
EN: Fortress of the Watering Place
PT: Fortaleza da Aguada
1612Intact Fort aguada.jpg Sinquerim Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1612–1961)
EN: Galle Fort
PT: Forte de Galle
1584Intact SL Galle Fort asv2020-01 img20.jpg Galle Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Sri LankaPortugal (1584–1640)
Netherlands (1640–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Ghodbunder Fort
PT: Forte de Ghodbunder
1550–1730Ruins Ghodbunder Fort courtyard.jpg Thane Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1550–1737)
Maratha (1737–1818)
Britain (1818–1947)
EN: Guia Fortress
PT: Fortaleza da Guia
1622–1638Intact Macau - Fortaleza de Guia.JPG Macau Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg ChinaPortugal (1622–1999)
EN: Khasab Fort
PT: Forte de Caçapo
17th centuryRestored Khasab Castle view.JPG Khasab Flag of Oman.svg Oman
EN: Korlai Fort
PT: Forte de Korlai
Orig: Fortaleza do Morro de Chaul
1521Ruins Korlai fort walkway.jpg Korlai Flag of India.svg India Ahmadnagar (1521–1594)
Portugal (1594–1739)
Maratha (1739–1818)
Britain (1818–1947)
EN: Madh Fort
PT: Forte de Madh
17th centuryIntact Madh-fort3.jpg Mumbai Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (17th century)
Britain (1661–1947)
EN: Malé Fort
PT: Forte de Malé
17th centuryDemolished View in Male harbour - The Graphic 1886.jpg Maldives Flag of Maldives.svg MaldivesPortugal (1558–1650)
Netherlands (1650–1796)
Britain (1796–1953)
EN: Mormugão fort
PT: Forte de Mormugão
1624Ruins Mormugao Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1624–1961)
EN: Mount Fortress
PT: Fortaleza do Monte
1617–1626Intact I bastioni della Fortaleza do Monte a Macao.jpg Macau Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg ChinaPortugal (1617–1999)
EN: Mutrah Fort
PT: Forte de Matara
1580sIntact Mutrah Fort Muscat.JPG Muscat Flag of Oman.svg OmanPortugal (1580s–1650)
Muscat (1650–1820)
Muscat & Oman (1820–1892)
Britain (1892–1970)
EN: Negombo Fort
PT: Forte de Negombo
17th centuryFragments SL Negombo asv2020-01 img06 Dutch Fort.jpg Negombo Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Sri LankaPortugal (17th century–1640)
Netherlands (1640–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Pallipuram Fort
PT: Forte de Paliporto
1503Intact Ayakotta.jpg Kochi Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1503–1663)
Netherlands (1663–1795)
Britain (1795–1947)
EN: Pooneryn Fort
PT: Forte de Pooneryn
17th centuryRuins Pooneryn fort.JPG Pooneryn Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Sri LankaPortugal (17th century-1658)
Netherlands (1658–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Portuguese Fort
PT: Forte Português
17th centuryIntact Pintu Masuk Benteng Portugis Jepara.jpg Jepara Regency Flag of Indonesia.svg IndonesiaMataram (17th century-1743)
Netherlands (1743–1811, 1814–1942)
Britain (1811–1814)
Japan (1942–1945)
EN: Redoubt of Counselor Jacinto Cândido
PT: Reduto do Conselheiro Jacinto Candido
1655Intact Batugade fort.jpg Batugade Flag of East Timor.svg East TimorPortugal (1655–1975)
Indonesia (1975–1999)
UNTAET (1999–2002)
EN: Revdanda Fort
PT: Forte de Revdanda
Orig: Fortaleza de Chaul
1524Ruins Revdanda Fort outer walls 03.JPG Revdanda Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1524–1806)
Maratha (1806–1818)
Britain (1818–1947)
EN: St. Angelo Fort
PT: Forte de Santo Ângelo
1505Intact St.angelo fort side view.jpg Kannur Flag of India.svg India
EN: St. Thomas Fort
PT: Forte de São Tomé
1518Ruins Thangassery Fort.jpg Kollam Flag of India.svg IndiaPortugal (1518–1661)
Netherlands (1661–1795)
Britain (1795–1947)

See also

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References

  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