{{Short description|Overview of Portuguese colonial forts}} {{About|former Portuguese forts|a list of forts in Portugal|List of forts#Portugal}}

[[File:Portugal Império total.png|thumb|right|300px|A map of the Portuguese Empire and its claims, strongholds, trade waters, and economic interests.]]

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=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="vertical-align:Centre" ! Name ! Built ! Condition ! class="unsortable" | Image ! City/Region !Current country ! class="unsortable" | Historical rulers

|- style="vertical-align:centre" class="vcard" | class="fn org" | EN: Elmina Castle<br>PT: Castelo de São Jorge da Mina |1482 |Intact |90px |Elmina |{{flagicon|Ghana}} Ghana | Portugal (1482–1637)<br>Netherlands (1637–1872)<br>Britain (1872–1957) |- |EN: Fort Cacheu<br>PT: Forte de Cacheu |1588 |Intact |90px |Cacheu |{{flagicon|Guinea-Bissau}} Guinea-Bissau |Portugal (1588–1974) |- |EN: Fort Duke of Braganza<br>PT: Forte Duque de Bragança |1820 |Ruins | |Ilhéu de Sal Rei |{{flagicon|Cape Verde}} Cape Verde | Portugal (1820–1975) |- |EN: Fort Jesus<br>PT: Forte Jesus de Mombaça |1593–1596 |Intact | 90px |Mombasa | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Kenya | Portugal (1593–1698, 1728–1729)<br>Oman (1698–1741, 1837–1895)<br>Local rule (1741–1837)<br>Britain (1895–1963) |- |EN: Fort Saint Anthony<br>PT: Forte de Santo António |1515 |Intact |90px |Axim |{{flagicon|Ghana}} Ghana | Portugal (1515–1642)<br>Netherlands (1642–1872)<br>Britain (1872–1957) |- |EN: Fort Saint Cajetan<br> PT: Forte de São Caetano de Sofala |1505 |Decimated |90px |Sofala |{{flagicon|Mozambique}} Mozambique | Portugal (1505–1975) |- |EN: Fort Saint Sebastian<br>PT: Forte de São Sebastião de Xama |1520–1526 |Intact |90px |Shama |{{flagicon|Ghana}} Ghana | Portugal (1520–1642)<br>Netherlands (1642–1872)<br>Britain (1872–1957) |- |EN: Fort Saint Sebastian<br> PT: Forte de São Sebastião |1558 |Intact |90px |Island of Mozambique |{{flagicon|Mozambique}} Mozambique | Portugal (1558–1975) |- |EN: Fort Saint Sebastian<br> PT: Forte de São Sebastião |1575 |Intact |90px |São Tomé |{{flagicon|São Tomé and Príncipe}} São Tomé and Príncipe | Portugal (1575–1641, 1644–1975)<br>Netherlands (1641–1644) |- |EN: Fortress of Kambambe<br> PT: Fortaleza de Cambambe |1604 |Ruins | |Cambambe | {{flagicon|Angola}} Angola | Portugal (1604–1975) |- |EN: Fortress of Mazagan<br>PT: Fortaleza de Mazagão |1514 |Intact |90px |El Jadida |{{flagicon|Morocco}} Morocco | Portugal (1514–1769)<br>Morocco (1769–1912)<br>France (1912–1956) |- |EN: Fortress of Muxima<br>PT: Fortaleza da Muxima |1599 |Intact | |Muxima |{{flagicon|Angola}} Angola | Portugal (1599–1641, 1648–1975)<br>Netherlands (1641–1648) |- |EN: Fortress of Saint John the Baptist of Ouidah<br>PT: Fortaleza de São João Batista de Ajudá |1721 |Intact | 90px |Ouidah | {{flagicon|Benin}} Benin | Portugal (1721–1961) |- |EN: Fortress of Saint Joseph Amura<br>PT: Fortaleza de São José da Amura |1697 |Restored | |Bissau |{{flagicon|Guinea-Bissau}} Guinea-Bissau | Portugal (1697–1974) |- |EN: Fortress of Saint Michael<br>PT: Fortaleza de São Miguel |1576 |Intact |90px |Luanda |{{flagicon|Angola}} Angola | Portugal (1576–1641, 1648–1975)<br>Netherlands (1641–1648) |- |EN: Royal Castle of Mogador<br>PT: Castelo Real de Mogador | 1506 | Demolished | 90px | Essaouira | {{flagicon|Morocco}} Morocco | Portugal (1506–1510) |- |EN: Royal Fort of Saint Philip<br>PT: Forte Real de São Filipe |1587–1593 |Intact | 90px |Cidade Velha | {{flagicon|Cape Verde}} Cape Verde | Portugal (1587–1975) |- |EN: Royal Walls of Ceuta<br>PT: Muralhas Reais de Ceuta |1540s |Intact |90px |Ceuta |{{flagicon|Spain}} Spain | Portugal (1415–1668) |- |EN: Stronghold of Saint Lawrence<br>PT: Fortim de São Lourenço |1695 |Intact |90px |Island of São Lourenço |{{flagicon|Mozambique}} Mozambique | Portugal (1695–1975) |}

===Americas=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="vertical-align:Centre" ! Name ! Built ! Condition ! class="unsortable" | Image ! City/Region !Current country ! class="unsortable" | Historical rulers |- | EN: Fort of Our Lady of Medicines<br>PT: Forte de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios | 1737 | Ruins | 90px | Fernando de Noronha | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Portugal (1737–1822) |- | EN: Fort of Saint Anthony Barra<br>PT: Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra | 1596 | Restored | 90px | Salvador | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Portugal (1596–1822)<br>Netherlands (1624–1625) |- | EN: Fort of Saint Anthony Beyond Carmo<br>PT: Forte de Santo Antônio Além do Carmo | 1695–1703 | Intact | 90px | Salvador | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Portugal (1695–1822) |- | EN: Fort Saint Anthony of Gurupá<br>PT: Forte de Santo Antônio de Gurupá | 1601–1619 | Restored | 90px | Gurupá | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Netherlands (1601–1623)<br>Portugal (1623–1822) |- | EN: Fort of Saint James<br>PT: Forte de São Diogo | 1609 | Intact | 90px | Salvador | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Portugal (1609–1822)<br>Netherlands (1624–1625) |- | EN: Fort of Saint Lawrence<br>PT: Forte de São Lourenço | 1631 | Restored | 90px | Itaparica | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Portugal (1631–1822)<br>Netherlands (1647) |- | EN: Fort of Saint Marcellus<br>PT: Forte de São Marcelo | 1608–1623 | Intact | 90px | Salvador | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Portugal (1608–1822)<br>Netherlands (1624–1625) |- | EN: Fort of Saint Mary<br>PT: Forte de Santa Maria | 1614 | Intact | 90px | Salvador | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Portugal (1614–1822)<br>Netherlands (1624–1625) |- | EN: Fort of Saint Michael<br>PT: Forte de São Miguel | 1737 | Intact | 90px | Dieciocho de Julio | {{flagicon|Uruguay}} Uruguay | Portugal (1737–1763)<br>Spain (1763–1816)<br>Portugal (1816–1822)<br>Brazil (1822–1828) |- style="vertical-align:centre" class="vcard" | class="fn org" | EN: Fort Santana<br>PT: Forte de Santana | 1775 | Ruins | 90px | Fernando de Noronha | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Portugal (1775–1822) |- | EN: Fort of the Three Wise Men<br>PT: Forte dos Reis Magos | 1599 | Intact | 90px | Natal | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Portugal (1599–1633, 1654–1822)<br>Netherlands (1633–1654) |- | EN: Fortress of the Holy Cross of Anhatomirim<br>PT: Fortaleza de Santa Cruz de Anhatomirim | 1739–1744 | Intact | 90px | Governador Celso Ramos | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | |- | EN: Fortress of the Holy Cross of Barra<br>PT: Fortaleza de Santa Cruz da Barra | 1612 | Intact | 90px | Niterói | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Portugal (1612–1822) |- | EN: Fortress of Our Lady of the Assumption<br>PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Assunção | 1812 | Intact | 90px | Fortaleza | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Portugal (1812–1822) |- | EN: Fortress of Our Lady of Conception<br>PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição | 1718 | Intact | 90px | Rio de Janeiro | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Portugal (1718–1822) |- | EN: Fortress of Our Lady of Pleasures<br>PT: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres | 1767–1769 | Intact | 90px | Paranaguá | {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil | Portugal (1767–1822) |- | EN: Fortress of Saint Teresa<br>PT: Fortaleza de Santa Teresa | 1762 | Intact | 90px | Santa Teresa National Park | {{flagicon|Uruguay}} Uruguay | Portugal (1762–1763)<br>Spain (1763–1816)<br>Portugal (1816–1822)<br>Brazil (1822–1828) |- |}

===Asia-Pacific=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="vertical-align:centre" ! Name ! Built ! Condition ! class="unsortable" | Image ! City/region !Current country ! class="unsortable" | Historical rulers |- | EN: Al Jalali Fort<br>PT: Forte Aljalali<br>{{Tooltip|Orig:|Original name}} Forte de São João | 1586 | Restored | 90px | Muscat | {{flagicon|Oman}} Oman | Portugal (1586–1650)<br>Muscat (1650–1820)<br>Muscat & Oman (1820–1892)<br>Britain (1892–1970) |- | EN: Arippu Fort<br>PT: Forte Arippu | 17th century | Ruins | | Mannar | {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} Sri Lanka | Portugal (17th century-1658)<br>Netherlands (1658–1796)<br>Britain (1796–1948) |- | EN: Balibo Fort<br> PT: Forte Balibo | 1645–1665 | Intact | 90px | Balibo | {{flagicon|East Timor}} East Timor | Portugal (1645–1975)<br>Indonesia (1975–1999)<br>UNTAET (1999–2002) |- | EN: Batticaloa Fort<br> PT: Forte Batticaloa | 1622–1628 | Intact | 90px | Batticaloa | {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} Sri Lanka | Portugal (1622–1638)<br>Netherlands (1638–1796)<br>Britain (1796–1948) |- | EN: Cabo de Rama Fort<br> PT: Forte do Cabo da Rama | 1763 | Ruins | 90px | Canacona | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1763–1961) |- | EN: Castle of the Waterpoint<br>PT: Castella de Aguada<br>{{Tooltip|Orig:|Original name}} Forte de Bandorá | 1640 | Intact | 90px | Mumbai | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1640–1661)<br>Britain (1661–1947) |- | EN: Chapora Fort<br> PT: Forte de Chaporá | 1717 | Ruins | 90px | Chapora | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1717–1961) |- | EN: Cranganore Fort<br>PT: Forte de Cranganore<br>{{Tooltip|Orig:|Original name}} Fortaleza da São Tomé | 1523 | Ruins | 90px | Kodungallur | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1523–1662)<br>Netherlands (1662–1796)<br>Britain (1796–1947) |- | EN: Diu Fortress<br> PT: Fortaleza de Diu<br>{{Tooltip|Orig:|Original name}} Fortaleza de São Tomé | 1535 | Intact | 90px | Diu | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1535–1961) |- | EN: Dongri Fort<br>PT: Forte de Dongri<ref>{{cite book|last1=Burnell|first1=John|title=Bombay in the Days of Queen Anne – Being an Account of the Settlement Also: Burnell's Narrative of his Adventures in Bengal|date=2007|publisher=Read Books|isbn=9781406755473|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1a-Apmn-K-gC&q=%22dongri+fort%22&pg=PA33|accessdate=22 August 2014}}</ref> | 1596 | Ruins | 90px | Mumbai | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1596-1739)<br>Maratha (1739-1818)<br>Britain (1818–1947) |- style="vertical-align:centre" class="vcard" | class="fn org" | EN: The Famous<br>PT: A Famosa | 1511 | Fragments | 90px | Malacca | {{flagicon|Malaysia}} Malaysia | Portugal (1511–1641)<br>Netherlands (1641–1795, 1818–1824)<br>Britain (1795–1818, 1824–1956)<br>Japan (1942–1945) |- | EN: Fort Al-Mirani<br>PT: Forte de Almirani | 16th century | Restored | 90px | Muscat | {{flagicon|Oman}} Oman | Portugal (16th century-1650)<br>Ottoman Empire (1552, 1581–1588)<br>Muscat (1650–1820)<br>Muscat & Oman (1820–1892)<br>Britain (1892–1970) |- | EN: Fort Anjediva<br>PT: Forte de Angediva | 1505 | Demolished | 90px | Anjediva Island | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1505–1961) |- | EN: Fort Emmanuel<br>PT: Forte de Manuel | 1503 | Ruins | 90px | Kochi | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1503–1663)<br>Netherlands (1663–1795)<br>Britain (1795–1947) |- | EN: Fort Kastela<br>PT: Fortaleza de Ternate<br>{{Tooltip|Orig:|Original name}} São João Baptista de Ternate | 1522 | Ruins | 90px | Ternate | {{flagicon|Indonesia}} Indonesia | Portugal (1522–1575)<br>Ternate (1575–1606)<br>Spain (1606–1663)<br>Netherlands (1663–1942, 1945–1946)<br>Japan (1942–1945)<br>East Indonesia (1946–1950) |- | EN: Fort Victoria, Our Lady of Annunciation Fortress<br>PT: Fortaleza Nossa Senhora de Anunciada | 1575 | Intact | 90px | Ambon, Maluku | {{flagicon|Indonesia}} Indonesia | Portugal (1575–1605)<br>Netherlands (1605–1946)<br>Britain (1810–1814)<br>Japan (1942-1945)<br>East Indonesia (1946–1950)<br>Republic of South Maluku (1950) |- | EN: Fort of Our Lady of the Conception<br>PT: Forte de Nossa Senhora da Conceição | 1515 | Fragments | 90px | Hormuz | {{flagicon|Iran}} Iran | |- | EN: Fort Qeshm<br>PT: Forte de Queixome | 1621 | Ruins | 90px | Qeshm | {{flagicon|Iran}} Iran | Portugal (1621–1622) |- | EN: Fort St. Anthony of Simbor<br>PT: Forte de Santo António de Simbor | 1722 | Restored | | Simbor | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1722–1961) |- | EN: Fort Tarout<br>PT: Forte de Tarout | 1515–1520 | Intact | 90px | Tarout Island | {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Saudi Arabia | Portugal (1515–1559) |- | EN: Fortress of the Watering Place<br> PT: Fortaleza da Aguada | 1612 | Intact | 90px | Sinquerim | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1612–1961) |- | EN: Galle Fort<br>PT: Forte de Galle | 1584 | Intact | 90px | Galle | {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} Sri Lanka | Portugal (1584–1640)<br>Netherlands (1640–1796)<br>Britain (1796–1948) |- | EN: Ghodbunder Fort<br>PT: Forte de Ghodbunder | 1550–1730 | Ruins | 90px | Thane | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1550–1737)<br>Maratha (1737–1818)<br>Britain (1818–1947) |- | EN: Guia Fortress<br>PT: Fortaleza da Guia | 1622–1638 | Intact | 90px | Macau | {{flagicon|China}} China | Portugal (1622–1999) |- | EN: Khasab Fort<br>PT: Forte de Caçapo | 17th century | Restored | 90px | Khasab | {{flagicon|Oman}} Oman | |- | EN: Korlai Fort<br>PT: Forte de Korlai<br>{{Tooltip|Orig:|Original name}} Fortaleza do Morro de Chaul | 1521 | Ruins | 90px | Korlai | {{flagicon|India}} India | Ahmadnagar (1521–1594)<br>Portugal (1594–1739)<br>Maratha (1739–1818)<br>Britain (1818–1947) |- | EN: Madh Fort<br>PT: Forte de Madh | 17th century | Intact | 90px | Mumbai | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (17th century)<br>Britain (1661–1947) |- | EN: Malé Fort<br>PT: Forte de Malé | 17th century | Demolished | 90px | Maldives | {{flagicon|Maldives}}Maldives | Portugal (1558–1650)<br>Netherlands (1650–1796)<br>Britain (1796–1953) |- | EN: Mormugão fort<br>PT: Forte de Mormugão | 1624 | Ruins | | Mormugao | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1624–1961) |- | EN: Mount Fortress<br>PT: Fortaleza do Monte | 1617–1626 | Intact | 90px | Macau | {{flagicon|China}} China | Portugal (1617–1999) |- | EN: Mutrah Fort<br>PT: Forte de Matara | 1580s | Intact | 90px | Muscat | {{flagicon|Oman}} Oman | Portugal (1580s–1650)<br>Muscat (1650–1820)<br>Muscat & Oman (1820–1892)<br>Britain (1892–1970) |- | EN: Negombo Fort<br>PT: Forte de Negombo | 17th century | Fragments | 90px | Negombo | {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} Sri Lanka | Portugal (17th century–1640)<br>Netherlands (1640–1796)<br>Britain (1796–1948) |- | EN: Pallipuram Fort<br>PT: Forte de Paliporto | 1503 | Intact | 90px | Kochi | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1503–1663)<br>Netherlands (1663–1795)<br>Britain (1795–1947) |- | EN: Pooneryn Fort<br>PT: Forte de Pooneryn | 17th century | Ruins | 90px | Pooneryn | {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} Sri Lanka | Portugal (17th century-1658)<br>Netherlands (1658–1796)<br>Britain (1796–1948) |- | EN: Portuguese Fort<br>PT: Forte Português | 17th century | Intact | 90px | Jepara Regency | {{flagicon|Indonesia}} Indonesia | Mataram (17th century-1743)<br>Netherlands (1743–1811, 1814–1942)<br>Britain (1811–1814)<br>Japan (1942–1945) |- | EN: Qal'at al-Bahrain<br>PT: Forte de Barém | 16th century | Intact | 90px | Capital Governorate | {{flagicon|Bahrain}} Bahrain | Portugal (16th century) |- | EN: Redoubt of Counselor Jacinto Cândido <br>PT: Reduto do Conselheiro Jacinto Candido | 1655 | Intact | 90px | Batugade | {{flagicon|East Timor}} East Timor | Portugal (1655–1975)<br>Indonesia (1975–1999)<br>UNTAET (1999–2002) |- | EN: Revdanda Fort<br>PT: Forte de Revdanda<br>{{Tooltip|Orig:|Original name}} Fortaleza de Chaul | 1524 | Ruins | 90px | Revdanda | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1524–1806)<br>Maratha (1806–1818)<br>Britain (1818–1947) |- | EN: St. Angelo Fort<br>PT: Forte de Santo Ângelo | 1505 | Intact | 90px | Kannur | {{flagicon|India}} India | |- | EN: St. Thomas Fort<br>PT: Forte de São Tomé | 1518 | Ruins | 90px | Kollam | {{flagicon|India}} India | Portugal (1518–1661)<br>Netherlands (1661–1795)<br>Britain (1795–1947) |}

==See also== * Architecture of Portugal

==References== {{commons category}} {{reflist}}

'''Notes''' {{notelist}}

{{Forts and fortresses of the Portuguese empire}}

Category:Portuguese forts Category:Portuguese colonial architecture