Fort Santa Catarina (Figueira da Foz)
Fort Santa Catarina of Figueira da Foz is located in the parish of Buarcos, in the city and municipality of Figueira da Foz, district of Coimbra, in Portugal.
It cooperated with the Fortress of Buarcos and the Palheiros Fortlet in the defense of the port and bay of Figueira da Foz and Buarcos.[2]
It houses the Santa Catarina Lighthouse. It is classified as a Property of Public Interest, by Decree 44.075, published on December 5, 1961.[1]
History
It is believed that the foundations of this fortification date back to the reign of King John I (1385-1433).
At the time Portugal was ruled by the Habsburg dynasty, in October 1585, some "good men" from the Coimbra city hall requested Philip I of Portugal (1580-1598) build a fort at the entrance to the mouth of the Mondego River, on the rocks known as Santa Catarina Hill. In response to this request, the construction work for the fort began some time later, with taxes of the town of Buarcos, the University of Coimbra, and the Monastery of Santa Cruz.
In 1602 the coast of Figueira da Foz was ravaged by English privateers, and this fort was looted.[1]
In the context of the Restoration of Independence, with the reinforcement and modernization of the kingdom's strongholds having been determined by the War Council of King John IV (1640-1656), the defense of the maritime coast was not forgotten. Thus, in 1643, reinforcement works began on the Santa Catarina, when one of the fortification's walls was expanded, its artillery increased to 15 pieces of different calibers.[1]
In a short time, however, despite the strategic importance of the defense of Mondego rivermouth, information shows that, in 1680, the fort's facilities were in ruins, and a budget was drawn up for its renovation. This ended up not happening since, the money destined to his works ended up being consumed in other expenses of the War of Restoration.
In 1808 the fort was occupied by Napoleonic troops under the command of Jean-Andoche Junot, during the Peninsular War.[1] A few months later, a force of two dozen volunteer students from the University of Coimbra, under the command of Artillery Sergeant Bernardo António Zagalo (from Ovar) and Infantry Sergeant Inácio Caiola, in front of 3000 people of differing military training, equipment and value, forced the French garrison of the fort to surrender on the 27th of June, taking it under arrest to Coimbra, where they had come from.[3][4][5] The fort was then occupied by the forces of Admiral Charles Cotton who, in command of the British fleet off the Portuguese coast, was thus able to ensure the safe landing of 13,000 men under the command of Arthur Wellesley on the coast of Lavos, on 1 August.
Throughout the 19th century the fort was mentioned in successive reports, which referred to the need for urgent repairs, until the loss of its military function.
In 1911 a part of the fort's space was ceded to the Instituto de Socorros a Náufragos.[1] The remainder was leased to Ténis Club Figueirense a few years later.[1] In 1991, the iron lighthouse built in the center of the fort, once an important navigation aid at the entrance to the rivermouth, was deactivated.[1]
Features
The fort has a triangular, organic plant, adapted to the irregular terrain on which it stands. It was criticized for presenting a very sharp angle on the faces of one of the bulwarks, which could compromise the defence. The rest have the shape of a dovetail.[1] In the square of arms the barracks and the Chapel of Santa Catarina were built, the latter being an oratory with a square layout and Mannerist typology, built around 1598, with an image of the patron saint dating from the 18th century.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Forte de Santa Catarina / Farol de Santa Catarina at monumentos.gov.pt
- ^ Forte e Capela de Santa Catarina at cm-figfoz.pt
- ^ Tim Saunders, Rob Yuill: The Light Division in the Peninsular War, 1808–1811, Pen and Sword Military, 2020
- ^ René Chartrand: Vimeiro 1808: Wellesley’s first victory in the Peninsular War, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013, p.30.
- ^ Rui Cardoso: Invasões Francesas – 200 anos, Leya, 2012, p. 56.
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Branco
- Forte de Ponte de Alvito
- Fortress of Buarcos
- Santa Catarina
- Palheiros Fort
- Estremoz
- Juromenha
- Santo António da Piedade
- Fort of Mourão
- São Luís
- Fort of Arrifana
- Santa Catarina
- São João do Arade
- Nossa Senhora da Encarnação
- Nossa Senhora da Luz
- Nossa Senhora da Penha de França
- Cavaleiros de Santiago
- São Sebastião de Castro Marim
- Fort of Sagres
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- São Roque
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- São João da Barra
- Vera Cruz
- Burgau Fort
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- Nossa Senhora da Rocha
- São Francisco
- Nossa Senhora da Consolação
- São João Baptista das Berlengas
- São Miguel Arcanjo
- São Vicente
- Bom Sucesso
- Santo António da Barra
- São Lourenço do Bugio
- Nossa Senhora da Luz
- Fort of Guincho
- Nossa Senhora da Guia
- Santa Susana
- São João das Maias
- São Bruno
- Nossa Senhora de Porto Salvo
- São Pedro de Milreu
- Nossa Senhora dos Anjos
- Nossa Senhora das Mercês
- Fort of Sacavém
- São Jorge
- São Julião da Barra
- São Pedro do Estoril
- São Teodósio
- Santa Marta
- Santo Amaro
- Nossa Senhora da Natividade
- Santa Apolónia
- São Brás de Sanxete
- Fort of Cresmina
Lines of Torres Vedras | |
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Campo Entrincheirado |
Castelo
- Areosa Fort
- Fort of Cão
- Nossa Senhora da Ínsua
- Fort of Lagarteira
- Montedor Fort
- Monção
- Santiago da Barra
- São Francisco de Lovelhe
- Valença
- Fort of the Açougue (Terceira)
- Fort of the Cavalas (Terceira)
- Fort of the Church of São Mateus da Calheta (Terceira)
- Fort of Cinco Ribeiras (Terceira)
- Espírito Santo (Terceira)
- Fort of the Caninas (Terceira)
- Nossa Senhora da Guia (Faial)
- Fort of Greta (Terceira)
- Fort of Má Ferramenta (Terceira)
- Fort of the Maré (Terceira)
- Military Battery of Espalamaca (Faial)
- Fort of Negrito (Terceira)
- Dois Paus redoubt (Terceira)
- São João Baptista (Terceira)
- Reducto da Salga (Terceira)
- Três Paus redoubt (Terceira)
- Forte da Salga (Terceira)
- Santa Catarina das Mós (Terceira)
- Santa Cruz (Faial)
- Santo António (Terceira)
- Santo António do Monte Brasil (Terceira)
- São Brás (Santa Maria)
- São Fernando (Terceira)
- São Francisco (Terceira)
- São João (Terceira)
- São João Baptista (Santa Maria)
- São Mateus da Calheta (Terceira)
- São Sebastião (Terceira)
- Forte do Terreiro (Terceira)
- Zimbreiro Fort (Terceira)
- São João Baptista (Pico)
- Nossa Senhora do Amparo (Madeira)
- São José (Porto Santo)
- São Lourenço (Madeira)
- São Tiago (Madeira)