{{Expand Spanish|topic=struct|Fortaleza del Real Felipe|date=February 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox historic site | name = Real Felipe Fortress National Monument | image = The Real Felipe Fortress.jpg | caption = Frontal view of the Real Felipe Fortress | location = [[Callao Bay]], Peru | mapcaption = | mapwidth = | coordinates = {{coord|12|3|46|S|77|8|57|W|display=inline,title}} | area = 70,000 m² | locmapin = Peru | built = 1747–1774 and 1776–1811 | governing_body = Peru's Army | designation1_date = 19 May 1952 }} The '''Real Felipe Fortress''' is a [[fortress]] located within the [[Historic Centre of Callao|Monumental Zone]] of [[Callao]], Peru. It was built to defend the main port of the country, as well as the city of [[Lima]] from pirates and corsairs during [[Viceroyalty of Peru|colonial times]]. The fortress was subject to a [[Second siege of Callao|two-year siege]] that ended Spain's presence in both Peru and South America. It is currently the Peruvian Army Museum, displaying historical uniforms, weapons and other military paraphernalia.
==History== ===Background=== During the [[Viceroyalty of Peru]], [[Callao]] was the main port of the Americas, it connected the colonies with Spain. Due to the lack of adequate defenses, several pirate incursions took place.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.chimpum-callao.com/historia/piratas.html|title = Historia, Gente y Tradición: Piratas en el Callao|accessdate = 22 March 2009|author = Humberto Cotos|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090305034948/http://chimpum-callao.com/historia/piratas.html|archivedate = 5 March 2009|df = dmy-all}}</ref> In an attempt to protect the port, the [[viceroy]] [[Pedro Álvarez de Toledo y Leiva]] decreed the construction of the [[Walls of Lima]] between the years 1640 and 1647 to protect the city.<ref>Regal, page. 2</ref> However, the [[1746 Lima–Callao earthquake]], destroyed most of the fortifications. [[Viceroy]] [[José Antonio Manso de Velasco]], ordered the construction of the fortress to bolster the defense of the port.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.chimpum-callao.com/historia/manso.html|title = Historia, Gente y Tradición: La Tragedia de 1746 y Manso de Velasco|accessdate = 18 March 2009|author = Humberto Cotos|archive-date = 25 July 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090725033607/http://www.chimpum-callao.com/historia/manso.html|url-status = dead}}</ref>
===Construction=== In 1746, the design proposal of French architect [[Louis Godin]] was selected as the design of the fortress.<ref>Regal, page. 5</ref> Construction of the fortress began on 21 January 1747 and the first stone was erected 1 August of the same year. This was considered one of the most important constructions made by Spain in the [[New World]], costing about three million [[Spanish peseta|pesetas]]. Most of the stone came from [[San Lorenzo Island, Peru|San Lorenzo Island]] and from the ruins caused by the earthquake. The name of the fortress was chosen to honor the Spanish king [[Felipe V]] from the [[House of Bourbon]], who had recently died. Construction ended during the reign of viceroy [[Manuel de Amat y Junient]] in 1774.
In 1782, viceroy [[Manuel Guirior]] decided to bolster the defences of the fortress with the construction of two smaller complementary fortresses; the «San Miguel» and the «San Rafael». This system came to be known as «Los Castillos del Callao» (The castles of Callao).
===Independence Era=== In 1806, viceroy [[José Fernando de Abascal y Sousa]] ordered the construction of a storage depot for arms, artillery and water to supply up to 2,000 soldiers for up to four months. On 21 January 1816, Admiral [[Guillermo Brown]] blockaded the port of Callao, captured several royalist boats and proceeded to bombard the port. However, they were soon repulsed by the coastal batteries of the fortress.<ref>Regal, page. 29</ref>
During 16 January 1819, the fortress repulsed an attack from Admiral [[Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald|Lord Thomas Cochrane]] during the government of viceroy [[Joaquín de la Pezuela]]. This incident forced General [[José de San Martín]] to invade Lima from [[Pisco, Peru|Pisco]]. Once the declaration of independence was decreed, General San Martín ordered to siege the fortress. The siege ended in 1821, when royalist General [[José de La Mar]] surrendered to Republican forces. However, the fortress was captured again by the Spaniards under [[Brigadier]] [[José Ramón Rodil y Campillo]]. Only in 1826, would the fortress return to the republicans after Brigadier Rodil y Campillo surrendered and ended the [[Second siege of Callao]].
==Gallery== <gallery class="center"> Image:PlanoRealFelipe1.jpg|Plan of the Royal Phillip's Castle and Callao seaport Image:PlanoRealFelipe2.jpg|Plan of the Royal Phillip's Castle Image:Torreondelrey realfelipe.jpg|King's Tower Image:Torreondelareina RealFelipe.jpg|Queen's Tower Image:RealFelipeAduanayPlaza-CourretHermanosFoto1868.JPG|Callao seaport's Custom-House in Royal Phillip's Castle Image:RealFelipeCallao1880.jpg|Queen's Tower armed with a [[Josiah Vavasseur|Vavasseur]] cannon in 1880 Image:L-Mariani-and-M-Paz-Soldan-Callao-topografico.jpeg | Callao, 1862 </gallery>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Bibliography== * '''''GUIDE TO PERU''''', Handbook for travelers, 6th. Edition, by Gonzalo de Reparaz Ruiz, Ediciones de Arte Rep, Lima – Perú, Book edited in English language by the Fondo de Promoción Turística del Perú – FOPTUR, pages 114–115. * Higgins, James (editor). ''The Emancipation of Peru: British Eyewitness Accounts'', 2014. Online at https://sites.google.com/site/jhemanperu
==External links== {{Commons category|Real Felipe, Callao}} *[https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&t=k&ie=UTF8&ll=-12.061942,-77.147659&spn=0.006704,0.009978&om=1 Satellite photo of Real Felipe Fortress] *[http://www.ejercito.mil.pe/ejercito/tradicion/museos/real_felipe/inicio.htm Real Felipe Fortress' website(Spanish)]
{{Landmarks in Lima}}
[[Category:1774 establishments in the Spanish Empire]] [[Category:Military installations established in 1774]] [[Category:18th-century fortifications]] [[Category:Forts in Peru]] [[Category:Spanish colonial fortifications]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Callao]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Callao]] [[Category:Museums in Peru]] [[Category:Convention centers in Peru]] [[Category:Piracy in the Pacific Ocean]] [[Category:Philip V of Spain]]