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.
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.
Name | Built | Condition | Image | City/Region | Current country | Historical rulers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EN: Elmina Castle PT: Castelo de São Jorge da Mina | 1482 | Intact | Elmina | Ghana | Portugal (1482–1637) Netherlands (1637–1872) Britain (1872–1957) | |
EN: Fort Cacheu PT: Forte de Cacheu | 1588 | Intact | Cacheu | Guinea-Bissau | Portugal (1588–1974) | |
EN: Fort Duke of Braganza PT: Forte Duque de Bragança | 1820 | Ruins | Ilhéu de Sal Rei | Cape Verde | Portugal (1820–1975) | |
EN: Fort Jesus PT: Forte Jesus de Mombaça | 1593–1596 | Intact | Mombasa | 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 | Portugal (1515–1642) Netherlands (1642–1872) Britain (1872–1957) | |
EN: Fort Saint Cajetan PT: Forte de São Caetano de Sofala | 1505 | Decimated | Sofala | Mozambique | Portugal (1505–1975) | |
EN: Fort Saint Sebastian PT: Forte de São Sebastião de Xama | 1520–1526 | Intact | Shama | 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 | Portugal (1558–1975) | |
EN: Fort Saint Sebastian PT: Forte de São Sebastião | 1575 | Intact | São Tomé | São Tomé and Príncipe | Portugal (1575–1641, 1644–1975) Netherlands (1641–1644) | |
EN: Fortress of Kambambe PT: Fortaleza de Cambambe | 1604 | Ruins | Cambambe | Angola | Portugal (1604–1975) | |
EN: Fortress of Mazagan PT: Fortaleza de Mazagão | 1514 | Intact | El Jadida | Morocco | Portugal (1514–1769) Morocco (1769–1912) France (1912–1956) | |
EN: Fortress of Muxima PT: Fortaleza da Muxima | 1599 | Intact | Muxima | 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 | Portugal (1721–1961) | |
EN: Fortress of Saint Joseph Amura PT: Fortaleza de São José da Amura | 1697 | Restored | Bissau | Guinea-Bissau | Portugal (1697–1974) | |
EN: Fortress of Saint Michael PT: Fortaleza de São Miguel | 1576 | Intact | Luanda | Angola | Portugal (1576–1641, 1648–1975) Netherlands (1641–1648) | |
EN: Royal Castle of Mogador PT: Castelo Real de Mogador | 1506 | Demolished | Essaouira | Morocco | Portugal (1506–1510) | |
EN: Royal Fort of Saint Philip PT: Forte Real de São Filipe | 1587–1593 | Intact | Cidade Velha | Cape Verde | Portugal (1587–1975) | |
EN: Royal Walls of Ceuta PT: Muralhas Reais de Ceuta | 1540s | Intact | Ceuta | Spain | Portugal (1415–1668) | |
EN: Stronghold of Saint Lawrence PT: Fortim de São Lourenço | 1695 | Intact | Island of São Lourenço | Mozambique | Portugal (1695–1975) |
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 | Portugal (1737–1822) | |
EN: Fort of Saint Anthony Barra PT: Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra | 1596 | Restored | Salvador | 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 | Portugal (1695–1822) | |
EN: Fort Saint Anthony of Gurupá PT: Forte de Santo Antônio de Gurupá | 1601–1619 | Restored | Gurupá | Brazil | Netherlands (1601–1623) Portugal (1623–1822) | |
EN: Fort of Saint James PT: Forte de São Diogo | 1609 | Intact | Salvador | Brazil | Portugal (1609–1822) Netherlands (1624–1625) | |
EN: Fort of Saint Lawrence PT: Forte de São Lourenço | 1631 | Restored | Itaparica | Brazil | Portugal (1631–1822) Netherlands (1647) | |
EN: Fort of Saint Marcellus PT: Forte de São Marcelo | 1608–1623 | Intact | Salvador | Brazil | Portugal (1608–1822) Netherlands (1624–1625) | |
EN: Fort of Saint Mary PT: Forte de Santa Maria | 1614 | Intact | Salvador | Brazil | Portugal (1614–1822) Netherlands (1624–1625) | |
EN: Fort of Saint Michael PT: Forte de São Miguel | 1737 | Intact | Dieciocho de Julio | 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 | Portugal (1775–1822) | |
EN: Fort of the Three Wise Men PT: Forte dos Reis Magos | 1599 | Intact | Natal | 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 | ||
EN: Fortress of the Holy Cross of Barra PT: Fortaleza de Santa Cruz da Barra | 1612 | Intact | Niterói | Brazil | Portugal (1612–1822) | |
EN: Fortress of Our Lady of the Assumption PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Assunção | 1812 | Intact | Fortaleza | Brazil | Portugal (1812–1822) | |
EN: Fortress of Our Lady of Conception PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição | 1718 | Intact | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | Portugal (1718–1822) | |
EN: Fortress of Our Lady of Pleasures PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres | 1767–1769 | Intact | Paranaguá | Brazil | Portugal (1767–1822) | |
EN: Fortress of Saint Teresa PT: Fortaleza de Santa Teresa | 1762 | Intact | Santa Teresa National Park | Uruguay | Portugal (1762–1763) Spain (1763–1816) Portugal (1816–1822) Brazil (1822–1828) | |
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 | 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 | Portugal (17th century-1658) Netherlands (1658–1796) Britain (1796–1948) | |
EN: Balibo Fort PT: Forte Balibo | 1645–1665 | Intact | Balibo | East Timor | Portugal (1645–1975) Indonesia (1975–1999) UNTAET (1999–2002) | |
EN: Batticaloa Fort PT: Forte Batticaloa | 1622–1628 | Intact | Batticaloa | 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 | Portugal (1763–1961) | |
EN: Castle of the Waterpoint PT: Castella de Aguada Orig: Forte de Bandorá | 1640 | Intact | Mumbai | India | Portugal (1640–1661) Britain (1661–1947) | |
EN: Chapora Fort PT: Forte de Chaporá | 1717 | Ruins | Chapora | India | Portugal (1717–1961) | |
EN: Cranganore Fort PT: Forte de Cranganore Orig: Fortaleza da São Tomé | 1523 | Ruins | Kodungallur | 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 | Portugal (1535–1961) | |
EN: Dongri Fort PT: Forte de Dongri [1] | 1596 | Ruins | Mumbai | India | Portugal (1596-1739) Maratha (1739-1818) Britain (1818–1947) | |
EN: The Famous PT: A Famosa | 1511 | Fragments | Malacca | 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 | 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 | Portugal (1505–1961) | |
EN: Fort Emmanuel PT: Forte de Manuel | 1503 | Ruins | Kochi | 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 | 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 | 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 | ||
EN: Fort Qeshm PT: Forte de Queixome | 1621 | Ruins | Qeshm | Iran | Portugal (1621–1622) | |
EN: Fort St. Anthony of Simbor PT: Forte de Santo António de Simbor | 1722 | Restored | Simbor | India | Portugal (1722–1961) | |
EN: Fort Tarout PT: Forte de Tarout | 1515–1520 | Intact | Tarout Island | Saudi Arabia | Portugal (1515–1559) | |
EN: Fortress of the Watering Place PT: Fortaleza da Aguada | 1612 | Intact | Sinquerim | India | Portugal (1612–1961) | |
EN: Galle Fort PT: Forte de Galle | 1584 | Intact | Galle | Sri Lanka | Portugal (1584–1640) Netherlands (1640–1796) Britain (1796–1948) | |
EN: Ghodbunder Fort PT: Forte de Ghodbunder | 1550–1730 | Ruins | Thane | India | Portugal (1550–1737) Maratha (1737–1818) Britain (1818–1947) | |
EN: Guia Fortress PT: Fortaleza da Guia | 1622–1638 | Intact | Macau | China | Portugal (1622–1999) | |
EN: Khasab Fort PT: Forte de Caçapo | 17th century | Restored | Khasab | Oman | ||
EN: Korlai Fort PT: Forte de Korlai Orig: Fortaleza do Morro de Chaul | 1521 | Ruins | Korlai | 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 | Portugal (17th century) Britain (1661–1947) | |
EN: Malé Fort PT: Forte de Malé | 17th century | Demolished | Maldives | Maldives | Portugal (1558–1650) Netherlands (1650–1796) Britain (1796–1953) | |
EN: Mormugão fort PT: Forte de Mormugão | 1624 | Ruins | Mormugao | India | Portugal (1624–1961) | |
EN: Mount Fortress PT: Fortaleza do Monte | 1617–1626 | Intact | Macau | China | Portugal (1617–1999) | |
EN: Mutrah Fort PT: Forte de Matara | 1580s | Intact | Muscat | 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 | Portugal (17th century–1640) Netherlands (1640–1796) Britain (1796–1948) | |
EN: Pallipuram Fort PT: Forte de Paliporto | 1503 | Intact | Kochi | India | Portugal (1503–1663) Netherlands (1663–1795) Britain (1795–1947) | |
EN: Pooneryn Fort PT: Forte de Pooneryn | 17th century | Ruins | Pooneryn | Sri Lanka | Portugal (17th century-1658) Netherlands (1658–1796) Britain (1796–1948) | |
EN: Portuguese Fort PT: Forte Português | 17th century | Intact | Jepara Regency | Indonesia | Mataram (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 | 1655 | Intact | Batugade | 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 | Portugal (1524–1806) Maratha (1806–1818) Britain (1818–1947) | |
EN: St. Angelo Fort PT: Forte de Santo Ângelo | 1505 | Intact | Kannur | India | ||
EN: St. Thomas Fort PT: Forte de São Tomé | 1518 | Ruins | Kollam | India | Portugal (1518–1661) Netherlands (1661–1795) Britain (1795–1947) |
Robert Burnell was an English bishop who served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1274 to 1292. A native of Shropshire, he served as a minor royal official before entering into the service of Prince Edward, the future King Edward I of England. When Edward went on the Eighth Crusade in 1270, Burnell stayed in England to secure the prince's interests. He served as regent after the death of King Henry III of England while Edward was still on crusade. He was twice elected Archbishop of Canterbury, but his personal life—which included a long-term mistress who was rumoured to have borne him four sons—prevented his confirmation by the papacy. In 1275 Burnell was elected Bishop of Bath and Wells, after Edward had appointed him Lord Chancellor in 1274.
Barracks are buildings used to accommodate military personnel. The English word originates from the 17th century via French and Italian from an old Spanish word "barraca", but today barracks are usually permanent buildings. The word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes, and the plural form often refers to a single structure and may be singular in construction.
The Forte de São João Baptista de Ajudá is a small restored fort in Ouidah, Benin. Built in 1721, it was the last of three European forts built in that town to tap the slave trade of the Slave Coast. Following the legal abolition of the slave trade early in the 19th century, the Portuguese fort lay abandoned most of the time until it was permanently reoccupied in 1865.
Madh Island is a group of several quaint fishing villages and farmlands in northern Mumbai.
Fort Vasai is a ruined fort of the town of Vasai (Bassein), Palghar, Maharashtra, India. The structure was formally christened as the Fort of St. Sebastian in the Indo-Portuguese era. The fort is a monument of national importance and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Fort Kochi, Fort Cochin in English, Cochim de Baixo in Cochin Portuguese creole, is a neighbourhood of Cochin (Kochi) city in Kerala, India. Fort Kochi takes its name from the Fort Manuel of Cochin, the first European fort on Indian soil, controlled by the Portuguese East Indies. This is part of a handful of water-bound islands and islets toward the south-west of the mainland Kochi, and collectively known as Old Cochin or West Cochin. Adjacent to this is the locality of Mattancherry. In 1967, these three municipalities along with a few adjoining areas, were amalgamated to form the Kochi Municipal Corporation.
Belapur Fort is a fort near the township of Belapur in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The fort was built by the Siddis of Janjira. It was later conquered by the Portuguese, and then Marathas. In the early 19th century, the fort was captured by the British. After the British gained supremacy in the region, with the expansion of the Bombay Presidency, the strategic importance of the fort declined, and it fell into disuse.
Diu, also known as Diu Town, is a medieval fortified town in Diu district in the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, India. Diu district is the tenth least populated district of India. The town of Diu lies at the eastern end of Diu Island and is known for its fortress and old Portuguese cathedral. It is a fishing town.
Acton Burnell Castle is a 13th-century fortified manor house, located near the village of Acton Burnell, Shropshire, England. It is believed that the first Parliament of England at which the Commons were fully represented was held here in 1283. Today all that remains is the outer shell of the manor house and the gable ends of the barn. It is a Grade I listed building on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.
Osu Castle is a castle located in Osu, Ghana, on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea in Africa.
Factory was the common name during the medieval and early modern eras for an entrepôt – which was essentially an early form of free-trade zone or transshipment point. At a factory, local inhabitants could interact with foreign merchants, often known as factors. First established in Europe, factories eventually spread to many other parts of the world. The origin of the word factory is from Latin factorium 'place of doers, makers'.
Castles in Portugal were crucial components of the military throughout its history. The Portuguese learned the art of building fortifications from the Romans and the Moors. The Romans, who ruled and colonized the territory of current-day Portugal for more than four centuries, built forts with high walls and strong towers to defend their populations. The Moors, who invaded the Iberian Peninsula in the year 711 A.D., brought new stonework and heavily fortified gates to the peninsula.
Mar Sabor and Mar Proth, according to Syrian Malabar Christian tradition, were two Chaldean Assyrian bishops who landed in the port of Kollam by the help of a Nestorian merchant, Sabr Iso in 823 AD. The mission is said to have received permission from the then king of Kerala to build a church in Kollam.
Bombay, also called Bom Bahia or Bom Baim in Indo-Portuguese creole, Mumbai in the local language; is the financial and commercial capital of India and one of the most populous cities in the world. It's also the cosmopolitan city centre of the Greater Bombay Metropolitan Area, and the cultural base of the Bollywood film industry. At the time of arrival of the Portuguese Armadas, Bombay was an archipelago of seven islands. Between the third century BCE and 1348, the islands came under the control of successive Hindu dynasties. The Delhi Sultanate had been ruling the area along with Chaul, New Bombay (Thana) & Damaon, with the administrative centre in Bassein (Vasai) since the raids of Malik Kafur in the Konkan region and across the Indian subcontinent. This territory in North Konkan along with the Bombay islands were later taken over by the Sultan of Guzerat from 1391 to 1534, when he had declared the end of the suzerainty of Delhi after the Timurid invasion of it. Growing apprehensive of the power of the Moghal emperor Humayun, Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat was obliged to sign the Treaty of Bassein on 23 December 1534; according to which, the seven islands of Bombay, Fort San Sebastian of Bassein in strategic town of Bassein (Vasai), and its dependencies were offered to the Portuguese East Indies. The places were only later officially surrendered on 25 October 1535, by the Sultan of Guzerat.
Qurayyat is a small fishing town 83 km southeast of Muscat, Oman, adjacent to the towns of Sur, Diman Wa Tayeen and Aamerat.
Galle Fort, in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 432 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.
St Mary's Church is in the village of Acton Burnell, Shropshire, England, and stands near the ruins of Acton Burnell Castle. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Condover, the archdeaconry of Ludlow, and the diocese of Hereford. Its benefice is united with those of St Andrew and St Mary, Condover, St Mark, Frodesley, and St Michael and All Angels, Pitchford. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.
Portuguese colonial architecture refers to the various styles of Portuguese architecture built across the Portuguese Empire. Many former colonies, especially Brazil, Macau, and India, promote their Portuguese architecture as major tourist attractions and many are UNESCO world heritage sites. Portuguese colonial architecture can be found in the plethora of former colonies throughout South America, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, India, Oceania, and East Asia.
Surat Castle, or Surat Fort, is a 16th-century structure in the city of Surat. The Ahmedabad king Sultan Mahmood-III (1538-1554) ordered its construction to defend the city from the frequent attacks that had devastated it. He entrusted the work to Safi Agha, a Turkish soldier who had been ennobled with the title of Khudawand Khan. The construction work of this castle was completed in the year 1546.
Fort Santo António de Lifau was a Portuguese fort once built by the mouth of the Tono River, in Lifau, district of Oecusse, in East-Timor, the first fort built by the Portuguese Crown, where only forts maintained by Dominican missionaries and Portuguese merchants previously existed.
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