List of Portuguese colonial forts explained

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

Africa

NameBuiltCondition ImageCity/RegionCurrent countryHistorical rulers
EN: Elmina Castle
PT: Castelo de São Jorge da Mina
1482IntactElmina GhanaPortugal (1482–1637)
Netherlands (1637–1872)
Britain (1872–1957)
EN: Fort Cacheu
PT: Forte de Cacheu
1588IntactCacheu Guinea-Bissau Portugal (1588–1974)
EN: Fort Duke of Braganza
PT: Forte Duque de Bragança
1820RuinsIlhéu de Sal Rei Cape VerdePortugal (1820–1975)
EN: Fort Jesus
PT: Forte Jesus de Mombaça
1593–1596IntactMombasa 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
1515IntactAxim GhanaPortugal (1515–1642)
Netherlands (1642–1872)
Britain (1872–1957)
EN: Fort Saint Cajetan
PT: Forte de São Caetano de Sofala
1505DecimatedSofala MozambiquePortugal (1505–1975)
EN: Fort Saint Sebastian
PT: Forte de São Sebastião de Xama
1520–1526IntactShama GhanaPortugal (1520–1642)
Netherlands (1642–1872)
Britain (1872–1957)
EN: Fort Saint Sebastian
PT: Forte de São Sebastião
1558IntactIsland of Mozambique MozambiquePortugal (1558–1975)
EN: Fort Saint Sebastian
PT: Forte de São Sebastião
1575IntactSão Tomé São Tomé and PríncipePortugal (1575–1641, 1644–1975)
Netherlands (1641–1644)
EN: Fortress of Kambambe
PT: Fortaleza de Cambambe
1604RuinsCambambe AngolaPortugal (1604–1975)
EN: Fortress of Mazagan
PT: Fortaleza de Mazagão
1514IntactEl Jadida MoroccoPortugal (1514–1769)
Morocco (1769–1912)
France (1912–1956)
EN: Fortress of Muxima
PT: Fortaleza da Muxima
1599IntactMuxima 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
1721IntactOuidah BeninPortugal (1721–1961)
EN: Fortress of Saint Joseph Amura
PT: Fortaleza de São José da Amura
1697RestoredBissau Guinea-BissauPortugal (1697–1974)
EN: Fortress of Saint Michael
PT: Fortaleza de São Miguel
1576IntactLuanda AngolaPortugal (1576–1641, 1648–1975)
Netherlands (1641–1648)
EN: Royal Castle of Mogador
PT: Castelo Real de Mogador
1506DemolishedEssaouira Morocco Portugal (1506–1510)
EN: Royal Fort of Saint Philip
PT: Forte Real de São Filipe
1587–1593IntactCidade Velha Cape VerdePortugal (1587–1975)
EN: Royal Walls of Ceuta
PT: Muralhas Reais de Ceuta
1540sIntactCeuta SpainPortugal (1415–1668)
EN: Stronghold of Saint Lawrence
PT: Fortim de São Lourenço
1695IntactIsland of São Lourenço MozambiquePortugal (1695–1975)

Americas

NameBuiltCondition ImageCity/RegionCurrent countryHistorical rulers
EN: Fort of Our Lady of Medicines
PT: Forte de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios
1737RuinsFernando de Noronha Brazil Portugal (1737–1822)
EN: Fort of Saint Anthony Barra
PT: Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra
1596RestoredSalvador Brazil Portugal (1596–1822)
Netherlands (1624–1625)
EN: Fort of Saint Anthony Beyond Carmo
PT: Forte de Santo Antônio Além do Carmo
1695–1703IntactSalvador Brazil Portugal (1695–1822)
EN: Fort Saint Anthony of Gurupá
PT: Forte de Santo Antônio de Gurupá
1601–1619RestoredGurupá Brazil Netherlands (1601–1623)
Portugal (1623–1822)
EN: Fort of Saint James
PT: Forte de São Diogo
1609IntactSalvador Brazil Portugal (1609–1822)
Netherlands (1624–1625)
EN: Fort of Saint Lawrence
PT: Forte de São Lourenço
1631RestoredItaparica Brazil Portugal (1631–1822)
Netherlands (1647)
EN: Fort of Saint Marcellus
PT: Forte de São Marcelo
1608–1623IntactSalvador Brazil Portugal (1608–1822)
Netherlands (1624–1625)
EN: Fort of Saint Mary
PT: Forte de Santa Maria
1614IntactSalvador Brazil Portugal (1614–1822)
Netherlands (1624–1625)
EN: Fort of Saint Michael
PT: Forte de São Miguel
1737IntactDieciocho de Julio Uruguay Portugal (1737–1763)
Spain (1763–1816)
Portugal (1816–1822)
Brazil (1822–1828)
EN: Fort Santana
PT: Forte de Santana
1775RuinsFernando de Noronha Brazil Portugal (1775–1822)
EN: Fort of the Three Wise Men
PT: Forte dos Reis Magos
1599IntactNatal Brazil Portugal (1599–1633, 1654–1822)
Netherlands (1633–1654)
EN: Fortress of the Holy Cross of Anhatomirim
PT: Fortaleza de Santa Cruz de Anhatomirim
1739–1744IntactGovernador Celso Ramos Brazil
EN: Fortress of the Holy Cross of Barra
PT: Fortaleza de Santa Cruz da Barra
1612IntactNiterói Brazil Portugal (1612–1822)
EN: Fortress of Our Lady of the Assumption
PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Assunção
1812IntactFortaleza Brazil Portugal (1812–1822)
EN: Fortress of Our Lady of Conception
PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição
1718IntactRio de Janeiro Brazil Portugal (1718–1822)
EN: Fortress of Our Lady of Pleasures
PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres
1767–1769IntactParanaguá Brazil Portugal (1767–1822)
EN: Fortress of Saint Teresa
PT: Fortaleza de Santa Teresa
1762IntactSanta Teresa National Park Uruguay Portugal (1762–1763)
Spain (1763–1816)
Portugal (1816–1822)
Brazil (1822–1828)

Asia-Pacific

NameBuiltConditionImageCity/regionCurrent countryHistorical rulers
EN: Al Jalali Fort
PT: Forte Aljalali
Forte de São João
1586RestoredMuscat OmanPortugal (1586–1650)
Muscat (1650–1820)
Muscat & Oman (1820–1892)
Britain (1892–1970)
EN: Arippu Fort
PT: Forte Arippu
17th centuryRuinsMannar Sri LankaPortugal (17th century-1658)
Netherlands (1658–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Balibo Fort
PT: Forte Balibo
1645–1665IntactBalibo East TimorPortugal (1645–1975)
Indonesia (1975–1999)
UNTAET (1999–2002)
EN: Batticaloa Fort
PT: Forte Batticaloa
1622–1628IntactBatticaloa Sri LankaPortugal (1622–1638)
Netherlands (1638–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Cabo de Rama Fort
PT: Forte do Cabo da Rama
1763RuinsCanacona IndiaPortugal (1763–1961)
EN: Castle of the Waterpoint
PT: Castella de Aguada
Forte de Bandorá
1640IntactMumbai IndiaPortugal (1640–1661)
Britain (1661–1947)
EN: Chapora Fort
PT: Forte de Chaporá
1717RuinsChapora IndiaPortugal (1717–1961)
EN: Cranganore Fort
PT: Forte de Cranganore
Fortaleza da São Tomé
1523RuinsKodungallur IndiaPortugal (1523–1662)
Netherlands (1662–1796)
Britain (1796–1947)
EN: Diu Fortress
PT: Fortaleza de Diu
Fortaleza de São Tomé
1535IntactDiu IndiaPortugal (1535–1961)
EN: Dongri Fort
PT: Forte de Dongri[1]
1596RuinsMumbai IndiaPortugal (1596-1739)
Maratha (1739-1818)
Britain (1818–1947)
EN: The Famous
PT: A Famosa
1511FragmentsMalacca MalaysiaPortugal (1511–1641)
Netherlands (1641–1795, 1818–1824)
Britain (1795–1818, 1824–1956)
Japan (1942–1945)
EN: Fort Al-Mirani
PT: Forte de Almirani
16th centuryRestoredMuscat 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
1505DemolishedAnjediva Island IndiaPortugal (1505–1961)
EN: Fort Emmanuel
PT: Forte de Manuel
1503RuinsKochi IndiaPortugal (1503–1663)
Netherlands (1663–1795)
Britain (1795–1947)
EN: Fort Kastela
PT: Fortaleza de Ternate
São João Baptista de Ternate
1522RuinsTernate 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
1575IntactAmbon, Maluku 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
1515FragmentsHormuz Iran
EN: Fort Qeshm
PT: Forte de Queixome
1621RuinsQeshm IranPortugal (1621–1622)
EN: Fort St. Anthony of Simbor
PT: Forte de Santo António de Simbor
1722RestoredSimbor IndiaPortugal (1722–1961)
EN: Fort Tarout
PT: Forte de Tarout
1515–1520IntactTarout Island Saudi ArabiaPortugal (1515–1559)
EN: Fortress of the Watering Place
PT: Fortaleza da Aguada
1612IntactSinquerim IndiaPortugal (1612–1961)
EN: Galle Fort
PT: Forte de Galle
1584IntactGalle Sri LankaPortugal (1584–1640)
Netherlands (1640–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Ghodbunder Fort
PT: Forte de Ghodbunder
1550–1730RuinsThane IndiaPortugal (1550–1737)
Maratha (1737–1818)
Britain (1818–1947)
EN: Guia Fortress
PT: Fortaleza da Guia
1622–1638IntactMacau ChinaPortugal (1622–1999)
EN: Khasab Fort
PT: Forte de Caçapo
17th centuryRestoredKhasab Oman
EN: Korlai Fort
PT: Forte de Korlai
Fortaleza do Morro de Chaul
1521RuinsKorlai IndiaAhmadnagar (1521–1594)
Portugal (1594–1739)
Maratha (1739–1818)
Britain (1818–1947)
EN: Madh Fort
PT: Forte de Madh
17th centuryIntactMumbai IndiaPortugal (17th century)
Britain (1661–1947)
EN: Malé Fort
PT: Forte de Malé
17th centuryDemolishedMaldivesMaldivesPortugal (1558–1650)
Netherlands (1650–1796)
Britain (1796–1953)
EN: Mormugão fort
PT: Forte de Mormugão
1624RuinsMormugao IndiaPortugal (1624–1961)
EN: Mount Fortress
PT: Fortaleza do Monte
1617–1626IntactMacau ChinaPortugal (1617–1999)
EN: Mutrah Fort
PT: Forte de Matara
1580sIntactMuscat OmanPortugal (1580s–1650)
Muscat (1650–1820)
Muscat & Oman (1820–1892)
Britain (1892–1970)
EN: Negombo Fort
PT: Forte de Negombo
17th centuryFragmentsNegombo Sri LankaPortugal (17th century–1640)
Netherlands (1640–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Pallipuram Fort
PT: Forte de Paliporto
1503IntactKochi IndiaPortugal (1503–1663)
Netherlands (1663–1795)
Britain (1795–1947)
EN: Pooneryn Fort
PT: Forte de Pooneryn
17th centuryRuinsPooneryn Sri LankaPortugal (17th century-1658)
Netherlands (1658–1796)
Britain (1796–1948)
EN: Portuguese Fort
PT: Forte Português
17th centuryIntactJepara Regency IndonesiaMataram (17th century-1743)
Netherlands (1743–1811, 1814–1942)
Britain (1811–1814)
Japan (1942–1945)
EN: Qal'at al-Bahrain
PT: Forte de Barém
16th centuryIntactCapital Governorate BahrainPortugal (16th century)
EN: Redoubt of Counselor Jacinto Cândido
PT: Reduto do Conselheiro Jacinto Candido
1655IntactBatugade East TimorPortugal (1655–1975)
Indonesia (1975–1999)
UNTAET (1999–2002)
EN: Revdanda Fort
PT: Forte de Revdanda
Fortaleza de Chaul
1524RuinsRevdanda IndiaPortugal (1524–1806)
Maratha (1806–1818)
Britain (1818–1947)
EN: St. Angelo Fort
PT: Forte de Santo Ângelo
1505IntactKannur India
EN: St. Thomas Fort
PT: Forte de São Tomé
1518RuinsKollam IndiaPortugal (1518–1661)
Netherlands (1661–1795)
Britain (1795–1947)

See also

References

Notes

Notes and References

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