Fort Santo Estevão Explained

Fort Santo Estevão
Native Name:Fortaleza de Santo Estevão
Country:India
Pushpin Map:India Goa#India
Coordinates:15.5361°N 73.9543°W
Condition:Good
Builder:Portuguese Empire

Fort Santo Estevão (Fortaleza de Santo Estevão in Portuguese) is a military structure erected in Santo Estevão Island, in Goa, by the Portuguese.

Built on the highest point of Santo Estevão Island, it was originally built as a watchtower to guard the Mandovi River, in 1550. It was the easternmost defensive structure in the Velhas Conquistas. After the first Maratha incursions against Goa, in 1666-1668, during which they destroyed a local church, The structure was expanded into a small fort.[1] [2] In 1683, the Marathas attacked Goa and managed to breach into the island of Santo Estevão because the corps of auxiliaries tasked with defending it fled from their enemy.[3] The Marathas captured the fort and massacred its garrison.[4]

After the annexation of the Novas Conquistas, the fort lost its military purpose.[1] It was abandoned in 1811 by decree of the Viceroy of India Dom Bernardo José Maria da Silveira e Lorena.[5]

Restoration works were undertaken on the fort in 2012.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Nuno Miguel de Pinho Lopes: O Sistema Defensivo de Goa, Universidade de Coimbra, 2017, pp.111-120.
  2. José Nicolau da Fonseca: An Historical and Archæological Sketch of the City of Goa: Preceded by a Short Statistical Account of the Territory of Goa, Thacker & Company, limited, 1878, p.288.
  3. Joaquim Heliodoro da Cunha Rivara, Charles J. Borges: Goa and the Revolt of 1787, Concept Publishing Company, 1996, p.225.
  4. António Lopes Mendes: A India portugueza: breve descrupção das possessões portuguezas na Asia, dividida em dois volumes, illustrados com 382 gravures e 7 mappas,, Volume 1, Imprensa nacional, 1886, p.63.
  5. Joaquim Pedro Celestino Soares: Bosquejo das possessoes portuguezas no Oriente ou resumo de algumas derrotas da India e da China, Imprensa nacional, 1851, p.32.