List of Portuguese colonial 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.

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 Name Built Condition Image City/RegionCurrent country Historical rulers EN: Elmina CastlePT: Castelo de São Jorge da Mina1482IntactElmina Ghana Portugal (1482–1637)Netherlands (1637–1872)Britain (1872–1957)EN: Fort CacheuPT: Forte de Cacheu1588IntactCacheu Guinea-Bissau Portugal (1588–1974)EN: Fort Duke of BraganzaPT: Forte Duque de Bragança1820RuinsIlhéu de Sal Rei Cape Verde Portugal (1820–1975)EN: Fort JesusPT: Forte Jesus de Mombaça1593–1596Intact Mombasa Kenya Portugal (1593–1698, 1728–1729)Oman (1698–1741, 1837–1895)Local rule (1741–1837)Britain (1895–1963)EN: Fort Saint AnthonyPT: Forte de Santo António1515IntactAxim Ghana Portugal (1515–1642)Netherlands (1642–1872)Britain (1872–1957)EN: Fort Saint Cajetan PT: Forte de São Caetano de Sofala1505DecimatedSofala Mozambique Portugal (1505–1975)EN: Fort Saint SebastianPT: Forte de São Sebastião de Xama1520–1526IntactShama Ghana Portugal (1520–1642)Netherlands (1642–1872)Britain (1872–1957)EN: Fort Saint Sebastian PT: Forte de São Sebastião1558IntactIsland of Mozambique Mozambique Portugal (1558–1975)EN: Fort Saint Sebastian PT: Forte de São Sebastião1575IntactSão Tomé São Tomé and Príncipe Portugal (1575–1641, 1644–1975)Netherlands (1641–1644)EN: Fortress of Kambambe PT: Fortaleza de Cambambe1604RuinsCambambe Angola Portugal (1604–1975)EN: Fortress of MazaganPT: Fortaleza de Mazagão1514IntactEl Jadida Morocco Portugal (1514–1769)Morocco (1769–1912)France (1912–1956)EN: Fortress of MuximaPT: Fortaleza da Muxima1599IntactMuxima Angola Portugal (1599–1641, 1648–1975)Netherlands (1641–1648)EN: Fortress of Saint John the Baptist of OuidahPT: Fortaleza de São João Batista de Ajudá1721Intact Ouidah Benin Portugal (1721–1961)EN: Fortress of Saint Joseph AmuraPT: Fortaleza de São José da Amura1697RestoredBissau Guinea-Bissau Portugal (1697–1974)EN: Fortress of Saint MichaelPT: Fortaleza de São Miguel1576IntactLuanda Angola Portugal (1576–1641, 1648–1975)Netherlands (1641–1648)EN: Royal Castle of MogadorPT: Castelo Real de Mogador 1506 Demolished Essaouira Morocco Portugal (1506–1510)EN: Royal Fort of Saint PhilipPT: Forte Real de São Filipe1587–1593Intact Cidade Velha Cape Verde Portugal (1587–1975)EN: Royal Walls of CeutaPT: Muralhas Reais de Ceuta1540sIntactCeuta Spain Portugal (1415–1668)EN: Stronghold of Saint LawrencePT: Fortim de São Lourenço1695IntactIsland of São Lourenço Mozambique Portugal (1695–1975)

Americas Name Built Condition Image City/RegionCurrent country Historical rulers EN: Fort of Our Lady of MedicinesPT: Forte de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios 1737 Ruins Fernando de Noronha Brazil Portugal (1737–1822) EN: Fort of Saint Anthony BarraPT: Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra 1596 Restored Salvador Brazil Portugal (1596–1822)Netherlands (1624–1625) EN: Fort of Saint Anthony Beyond CarmoPT: Forte de Santo Antônio Além do Carmo 1695–1703 Intact Salvador Brazil Portugal (1695–1822) EN: Fort Saint Anthony of GurupáPT: Forte de Santo Antônio de Gurupá 1601–1619 Restored Gurupá Brazil Netherlands (1601–1623)Portugal (1623–1822) EN: Fort of Saint JamesPT: Forte de São Diogo 1609 Intact Salvador Brazil Portugal (1609–1822)Netherlands (1624–1625) EN: Fort of Saint LawrencePT: Forte de São Lourenço 1631 Restored Itaparica Brazil Portugal (1631–1822)Netherlands (1647) EN: Fort of Saint MarcellusPT: Forte de São Marcelo 1608–1623 Intact Salvador Brazil Portugal (1608–1822)Netherlands (1624–1625) EN: Fort of Saint MaryPT: Forte de Santa Maria 1614 Intact Salvador Brazil Portugal (1614–1822)Netherlands (1624–1625) EN: Fort of Saint MichaelPT: Forte de São Miguel 1737 Intact Dieciocho de Julio Uruguay Portugal (1737–1763)Spain (1763–1816)Portugal (1816–1822)Brazil (1822–1828) EN: Fort SantanaPT: Forte de Santana 1775 Ruins Fernando de Noronha Brazil Portugal (1775–1822) EN: Fort of the Three Wise MenPT: Forte dos Reis Magos 1599 Intact Natal Brazil Portugal (1599–1633, 1654–1822)Netherlands (1633–1654) EN: Fortress of the Holy Cross of AnhatomirimPT: Fortaleza de Santa Cruz de Anhatomirim 1739–1744 Intact Governador Celso Ramos Brazil EN: Fortress of the Holy Cross of BarraPT: Fortaleza de Santa Cruz da Barra 1612 Intact Niterói Brazil Portugal (1612–1822) EN: Fortress of Our Lady of the AssumptionPT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Assunção 1812 Intact Fortaleza Brazil Portugal (1812–1822) EN: Fortress of Our Lady of ConceptionPT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição 1718 Intact Rio de Janeiro Brazil Portugal (1718–1822) EN: Fortress of Our Lady of PleasuresPT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres 1767–1769 Intact Paranaguá Brazil Portugal (1767–1822) EN: Fortress of Saint TeresaPT: 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 Name Built Condition Image City/regionCurrent country Historical rulers EN: Al Jalali FortPT: Forte Aljalali Forte de São João 1586 Restored Muscat Oman Portugal (1586–1650)Muscat (1650–1820)Muscat & Oman (1820–1892)Britain (1892–1970) EN: Arippu FortPT: 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 WaterpointPT: Castella de Aguada 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 FortPT: Forte de Cranganore Fortaleza da São Tomé 1523 Ruins Kodungallur India Portugal (1523–1662)Netherlands (1662–1796)Britain (1796–1947) EN: Diu Fortress PT: Fortaleza de Diu Fortaleza de São Tomé 1535 Intact Diu India Portugal (1535–1961) EN: Dongri FortPT: Forte de Dongri 1596 Ruins Mumbai India Portugal (1596-1739)Maratha (1739-1818)Britain (1818–1947) EN: The FamousPT: 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-MiraniPT: 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 AnjedivaPT: Forte de Angediva 1505 Demolished Anjediva Island India Portugal (1505–1961) EN: Fort EmmanuelPT: Forte de Manuel 1503 Ruins Kochi India Portugal (1503–1663)Netherlands (1663–1795)Britain (1795–1947) EN: Fort KastelaPT: Fortaleza de Ternate 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 FortressPT: 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 ConceptionPT: Forte de Nossa Senhora da Conceição 1515 Fragments Hormuz Iran EN: Fort QeshmPT: Forte de Queixome 1621 Ruins Qeshm Iran Portugal (1621–1622) EN: Fort St. Anthony of SimborPT: Forte de Santo António de Simbor 1722 Restored Simbor India Portugal (1722–1961) EN: Fort TaroutPT: 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 FortPT: Forte de Galle 1584 Intact Galle Sri Lanka Portugal (1584–1640)Netherlands (1640–1796)Britain (1796–1948) EN: Ghodbunder FortPT: Forte de Ghodbunder 1550–1730 Ruins Thane India Portugal (1550–1737)Maratha (1737–1818)Britain (1818–1947) EN: Guia FortressPT: Fortaleza da Guia 1622–1638 Intact Macau China Portugal (1622–1999) EN: Khasab FortPT: Forte de Caçapo 17th century Restored Khasab Oman EN: Korlai FortPT: Forte de Korlai Fortaleza do Morro de Chaul 1521 Ruins Korlai India Ahmadnagar (1521–1594)Portugal (1594–1739)Maratha (1739–1818)Britain (1818–1947) EN: Madh FortPT: Forte de Madh 17th century Intact Mumbai India Portugal (17th century)Britain (1661–1947) EN: Malé FortPT: Forte de Malé 17th century Demolished Maldives Maldives Portugal (1558–1650)Netherlands (1650–1796)Britain (1796–1953) EN: Mormugão fortPT: Forte de Mormugão 1624 Ruins Mormugao India Portugal (1624–1961) EN: Mount FortressPT: Fortaleza do Monte 1617–1626 Intact Macau China Portugal (1617–1999) EN: Mutrah FortPT: Forte de Matara 1580s Intact Muscat Oman Portugal (1580s–1650)Muscat (1650–1820)Muscat & Oman (1820–1892)Britain (1892–1970) EN: Negombo FortPT: Forte de Negombo 17th century Fragments Negombo Sri Lanka Portugal (17th century–1640)Netherlands (1640–1796)Britain (1796–1948) EN: Pallipuram FortPT: Forte de Paliporto 1503 Intact Kochi India Portugal (1503–1663)Netherlands (1663–1795)Britain (1795–1947) EN: Pooneryn FortPT: Forte de Pooneryn 17th century Ruins Pooneryn Sri Lanka Portugal (17th century-1658)Netherlands (1658–1796)Britain (1796–1948) EN: Portuguese FortPT: 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-BahrainPT: 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 FortPT: Forte de Revdanda Fortaleza de Chaul 1524 Ruins Revdanda India Portugal (1524–1806)Maratha (1806–1818)Britain (1818–1947) EN: St. Angelo FortPT: Forte de Santo Ângelo 1505 Intact Kannur India EN: St. Thomas FortPT: Forte de São Tomé 1518 Ruins Kollam India Portugal (1518–1661)Netherlands (1661–1795)Britain (1795–1947)

See also Architecture of Portugal

References

Notes