List of Portuguese colonial forts

(Redirected from Portuguese forts)

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.

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

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 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)

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 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)

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 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: Qal'at al-Bahrain
PT: Forte de Barém
16th century Intact   Capital Governorate   Bahrain Portugal (16th century)
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)

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