Atlas Of Dutch Brazil

Portuguese system of batteries around Filipéia/Frederickstad, 1631-1634
Abstract
A map in a manuscript depicts the Dutch attack in 1634 on Paraíba. This map shows smaller Portuguese defences east and west of the then town of Filipéia. Two batteries of two bronze pieces (1&2) were located on both sides of Varadouro bay in order to defend the city. A third battery was found further north in front of the previous two. According to De Laets description, in 1631, the city was not fortified but defended by the three batteries: the middle battery was armed with nine pieces, the others with six and four pieces respectively.

Timeline
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< 1631-1634 Portuguese >
De Laet reports that the city of Filipéia was not fortified but defended by three batteries that controlled the access by water. The middle battery was armed with nine pieces, the others with six and with four pieces.
< 1634-1635 Portuguese >
According to a Spanish map of Filipeía, during the second Dutch attack in 1634 the city was defended by three batteries of the Portuguese: two at both sides of the entrance of the bay of Varadouro and a third one opposite and further to the north. On Visscher's map, however, the battery with two pieces is located where the sugarhouses were and another battery is depicted more to the west of the town.

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Modern name	Portuguese system of batteries around Filipéia/Frederickstad, 1631-1634
Historical names	batenados portugueses da villa; bateria dos portugueses; outra bateria nossa;
Category	Defence work;
Toponym	João Pessoa
Modern name location	João Pessoa
Historical names location	Filipéia; Frederica; Fredericia; Frederick Stadt; Frederickstadt; Fredericópole; Nossa Senhora das Neves; Philippeia;
Municipality	João Pessoa
State	Paraiba
Address	Av. General Osório, s/n ? 58010780 Centro
Original function	Batteries
Relation to nearby objects	The system of batteries located around the bay of Varadouro was meant to protect the city from enemy attacks.
Inventory date	2006-11-14 00:00:00
Short description	The fortification system of the city of Filipeia/Frederickstad during Portuguese rule consisted of a series of three batteries located around the bay of Varadouro, forming a triangle in order to defend the main access to the city from the waterfront. In 1631 the city was not fortified but defended by the three batteries: the middle battery was armed with nine pieces, the others with six and four pieces respectively.
Possible arch. research	Information about the existence of a Portuguese fieldwork, located on the southern bank of the Rio Paraíba, west of João Pessoa, was received during the field-survey from local experts. Lack of time hindered verification of this information by the survey team.
Keywords	Paraíba; Varadouro; João Pessoa; Bay; River; Battery; System of fortifications;

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Portuguese system of batteries around Filipéia/Frederickstad, 1631-1634