Forte de Santo Antônio |
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| Abstract | |
| Forte Santo Antônio also known as Forte do Norte (Northern Fort) was located along the northern shore of the Paraíba river estuary. A first fort was built during the Portuguese conquest of Paraiba in 1589 but it was abandoned 10 years later. A new fort was built in 1631 by the Portuguese; Santo Antônio, together with Fort Santa Margareta (do Cabedelo) and Restinga Fort, formed a triangle of defence works that protected the entrance of the river. During the period 1645-1654 the fort played an important role for the Dutch. It was the base for their Indian allies led by Pedro Poti who controlled the coast as far as Rio Grande do Norte. | |
| Timeline | |
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< 1580-1589 Dutch > |
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| During this period Spain and Portugal are unified under one crown. The Portuguese possessions in Brazil fall under the Spanish crown jurisdiction. | |
< 1589-1590 Spanish > |
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| The Portuguese build fort Santo Antonio on low-lying ground, on the north bank of the river Paraíba. | |
< 1590-1599 Spanish > |
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| It is probably in this year that the Franciscan monastery was being built, based on the project of architect Fr. Francisco dos Santos. | |
< 1599-1631 Spanish > |
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| A new redoubt is built on the left side of the Paraíba river mouth in front of the fort Santa Catarina do Cabedelo. The Dutch attack the fort without success. | |
< 1631-1633 Spanish > |
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| A new redoubt is built on the left side of the Paraíba river mouth in front of the fort Santa Catarina do Cabedelo. The Dutch attack the fort without success. | |
< 1633-1634 Spanish > |
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| The fort is perfected into two bulwarks by the engineer Diogo Paes, but is still not completed, as the parapets have not been built. | |
< 1634-1641 Dutch > |
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| After the conquest of Paraíba the Dutch start the reconstruction of the old Portuguese fort. Reconstruction must have taken place around 1636 as the High Council paid 720 guilders for it on September 23, 1636.The only part of the old fort left was the landward bulwark; the river washed away the northern part of the fort. The Dutch rebuilt the landward bulwark into a redoubt and set a palisade around it on the riverside, as governor Johan Maurits van Nassau had ordered during his visit to Paraíba. The Dutch redoubt functioned mainly as a watchtower. | |
< 1641-1647 Dutch > |
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| According to the Dutch sources the garrison consists of 30 men. | |
< 1647-1648 Dutch > |
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| The Portuguese attack the fort. Six iron pieces are found in the fort. | |
< 1648-1654 Dutch > |
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| According to the Dutch sources the garrison consists of 30 men. | |
< 1654-1654 Portuguese > |
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| The Dutch abandon the fort. Five metal cannons are found in the fort. | |
| More » | |
| Modern name | Forte de Santo Antônio |
| Historical names | Fort Boreale; Forte do Norte; Forte Santo Antônio (do Norte); Forte São Bento; Noorderfort; |
| Category | Defence work; |
| Toponym | Santo Antônio |
| Year of first construction | 1589 |
| Original function | Fort |
| Relation to nearby objects | Together with Fort Restinga and Forte Cabedelo defending the entrance of the Rio Paraiba (Paraiba river). *Upstream on the Paraiba river on the bank of the small river Guia, about one league distance from Forte Santo Antônio and in front of Restinga island, the Portuguese and Spanish (led by general Flores Valdés) built their first fortification in 1584. The fort was called Forte de São Filipe e Tiago, but is better known as Forte Velho (see map Teixeira Albernaz 1626 o cithio onde esteve o primeiro forte). The French and Indians attacked this fort so often that the Portuguese finally abandoned it and left the French free to take it over. According to other authors (like Joffily), the fort was in fact first built by the French in 1584. The French were then driven back to Baia da Traição by the Indian Potiguares, and the fort was taken over by the Portuguese in 1586. Except for a village with the striking name of Forte Velho (Old Fort), no traces of this fort have been found. * In 1629 the Portuguese built an impressive watchtower (atalaia) near the village of Forte Velho , overlooking the mouth of the Paraiba river, which still exists and now lies in the middle of a sugar-cane field. The Portuguese built this watchtower on the northern bank of the river, anticipating an attack by the Dutch (see Visschers map). *Along the sea coast to the north of Santo Antônio lies a place called Ponta de Lucena, which the Dutch used to designate Het Roode Land. In 1585, during the offensive against the French and the Indians, the Portuguese, led by Flores Valdez, set up a small battery for defence. After some time the fort was abandoned. *Between Santo Antônio and Ponta de Lucena, inland near the church and convent of Nossa Senhora da Guia, the Indian population of the villages Jacouippe and Pontael were re-housed here, founding a new Indian aldeia. Schoppe reports that in 1654 seven cannon were present in this place. |
| Architect(s) | Diogo Paes |
| Inventory date | 2006-11-14 00:00:00 |
| Short description | The Portuguese fort erected by Diogo Paes (architect and engineer)in 1631 was a solid square construction with four bulwarks. However, since the fort was built on an extremely exposed point, it was difficult to maintain because of continual undermining by the sea. In fact, after 1634 when the Dutch conquered it, it was found damaged with the northern part washed away by the river and the sea. Nevertheless, in 1636 the left landward bulwark was transformed into a redoubt Noorderfort and was surrounded by a palisade. Only a few years later the fort disappeared completely. |
| Possible arch. research | During the field survey the probable location of Forte de Santo Antonio was traced by making an accurate comparison of the 17th century maps and the actual situation on the ground. There are possibilities for future archaeological research by using geophysics and making a trial trench. |
| Keywords | Fort; Paraíba; Santo Antonio; Northern Fort; Redoubt; |
| Sources » |
| Sources | IAHGPE Instituto Arqueológico Histórico Geográfico de Pernambuco Recife;
Coleção José Hygino, Nótulas Diárias do Conselho Supremo e Secreto do Brasil 1635-1654 (Dagelijkse Notulen van den Hoogen en Secreten Raad in Brazilië;
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Vol 1-7 e 10 UB Universiteit Bibliotheek Leiden; ; COLLBN 051-89-066; NA Nationaal Archief Den Haag; Oude West Indische Compagnie 1.05.01.01; 2; 23-09-1641 KB Koninklijke Bibliotheek Den Haag; KB 76 A 16[ii] (Hamel 1647); ; » ?Redoute St. Anthonio Is gelegen aen de noordtzijde vande rivier van Paraiba sijnde een bolwerck van ?t oude viercante fort door de Portugesen gemaeckt hetwelck wij nae dat de rest vande revier weg gedreven was en afgespoelt inde helen gesloten hadden. Is met een rije palisaden daeren boven aen de een sijde van de Revier ende aende Landtsijde met een stuck van de oude gracht ende kreke omgeven. De wal is vast en stijl van binnen met een baterije en 6 stucken versien als volgt: 2 ijsere stucken a 6 pond 4 deselve a 5 pond _________ 6 ijsere stucken? NA Nationaal Archief Den Haag; Oude West Indische Compagnie 1.05.01.01; 53; f.22 Dussen Carpentier » ?Het noorderfort genaemt Santo Anthonio is een viercant fort met vier bolwercken ende leit noch gelijck het van den vijant is gewonnen, uijtgenomen dat het te steijl opgeset sijnde ende derhalven dreijgende te vallen van buijten wat is moeten afgesteecken werden ende wat meer dosseringe gegeven?. NA Nationaal Archief Den Haag; Oude West Indische Compagnie 1.05.01.01; 46; 01-07-1639 Herckmans » ?Tegen over dit fort aende noortcant van de rivier heeft oock een fort gelegen, genaemt St. Anthonio, maer alsoo sijn Excie Graef Maurits van Nassau als Gouverneur Generael ende Admirael uijt den naem van de Hoog Mogende heeren Staten Generael der Vereenichde Nederlanden, sijn hoocheit den Prince van Oragnien ende Bewinthebbers der geoctroijeerde West Indische Comp ie over de conquesten van Brasil, aldaer gecomen was ende de gelegentheit ende streckte aldaer besichticht. Is geordonneert het selve te laten vervallen ende te slechten, maer inden jare 1639 van sijn hoochgemelte Excie wederom goetgevonden doch in cleijnder begrijp op te maecken.? NA Nationaal Archief Den Haag; Oude West Indische Compagnie 1.05.01.01; 68; 19-02-1638 » ?Belangende t? Noorderfort alsoo t? selve seer vervallen is ende heel veel soude comen te costen weder op te maecken is goet gevonden t? selve voorth te laten vervallen ende maer een [één] redoute daer t? souden, t? welcke geoordeelt wert genoech te sijn.? NA Nationaal Archief Den Haag; Oude West Indische Compagnie 1.05.01.01; 62; f.216 Bullestrate 7 October 1645 » De wercken vant fort Margarita gevisiteert ende bevonden de pallesaden seer weijnich te sijn, doch door de Directeur de Linge verstaen dat die waren besteed om te vermaecken, alsmede het parapet en andere wercken; goetgevonden aldaer een travers van palisaden te laten maecken om den Barn te bevrijden voor het overclimmen aen de zeekant, en een dubbel rieh Palisaden om het overcomen te beletten Overgevaeren ende aldaer gevisiteert het redout St Ant o ende bevonden de palisaden seer vergaen te sijn ende het plack werck afgeschooten, de Hr de Linge secht tselve wilde te hebben besteet om op te maecken. Het retrenchement daer de brasilianen onder de Regidor Pieter pottij in leijt, gevisiteert ende bevonden redelijck in defensie te wesen [...] Den Regidor Pieter Pottij versocht met sijn onderhebbende volck int werck te stellen als volcht: Eerste voort fort S. Antonio te laten gereet maecken de palisaden, ende sal haer voor ijeder hondert weder betaelen vijf guld in gelt en vivres Noch soo voor kleij als tot opmaecken vant selve soo van doen is, daer van haer mede contentement sal werden gedaen. Sal laten hacken door sijn volck drij of vier duijsent palisaden om te versenden ter plaetse daer de Comp ie deselve sal hebben te gebruijcken, ende sal haer voor ijeder hondert nae gedane leveringe werden beth vijf guld. Sal met sijn bijgebleven volck alle devoir aenwenden tot afbreuck van den vijand, ende sullen bij ons alsdan als trouwe ondersaten erkent worden. Noch hem gecommandeert een partije lont door sijn vrouwen te laten maecken.? NA Nationaal Archief Den Haag; Oude West Indische Compagnie 1.05.01.01; 64; ff.33-32 1648 NA Nationaal Archief Den Haag; Oude West Indische Compagnie 1.05.01.01; 67; f.85 Schoppe 27-01-1654 » In ?t fortjen St Anthonio Metaele: 5 NA Nationaal Archief Den Haag; Oude West Indische Compagnie 1.05.01.01; 68; 23-09-1636 » Johan Taelboom versouckende dat men de penningen soo hem competerende van wercken in Paraiba alsoo d?heeren geen gelt alhier en hebben op sijn reeckeninge soude goet doen ende alsoo het zuijderfort niet volgens sijn besteck was opgemaeckt ?t welck voor f 1200 has aengenomen soo is hem toegelecht daer voor in plaets van 1200, 600 guldens ?t welck met te samen op sijne reeckening sal goet doen. Vant Noorderfort 720 Vant Restinga 1500 Vant Zuijderfort 600 Comt te samen 2820 Aff treckende wat hier op is betaelt.? |
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| Literature |
Barlaeus C.;
1980;
História dos feitos recentemente praticados durante oito anos no Brasil;
Recife;
Fundação de Cultura Cidade do Recife;
pp. 51/94/104;
» ?Fez Maurício restaurar na Paraíba o forte arruinado do Cabedelo ou de Sta. Catarina e guarnecê-lo com um fosso mais largo e mais fundo e, por cima, com uma couraça. Mudou-lhe Nassau o nome para o de Margarida, como se chama sua irmã.? ?Defendem a Paraíba estes fortes: o de Margarida, muito sólido por todo o gênero de fortificações, tendo fosso, trincheira, parapeito, quatorze canhões de bronze e quarenta e dois de ferro;? ?Ele próprio [Nassau], dirigindo-se à Paraíba, mandou restaurar as fortificações arruinadas, providenciando cuidadosamente todo o necessário à defesa desta província. Muniu o forte de Margarida com uma paliçada, por estarem secos os fossos, que as areias trazidas pelas enxurradas haviam enchido.? De Laet J.; 1920; História ou Annaes dos feitos da Companhia Privilegiada das Indias Occidentaes desde o seu começo até o fim do anno de 1636; Rio de Janeiro; Officinas Graphicas da Bibliotheca Nacional; pp. 220; Vol. 38 » ?[?] estavam na praia uma companhiade castelhanos e quatro de portugueses, cada uma forte de 70 ou 80 homens, e uns 600 ou 700 índios; e que havia dois meses, vieram duas companhias de castelhanos, os quais trouxeram 8 canhões de bronze, atirando 16 libras de ferro, que foram montados no forte de Cabedello. No mesmo forte estavam montados 18 canhões pesados, a saber: aqueles 8 de bronze e 10 de ferro, atirando cada um balas de 10 libras, não sendo, geralmente, o forte guarnecido senão por 30 homens; dentro não existiam outras casas, a não ser a da pólvora, ainda por acabar; a muralha ainda tinha 30 palmos de altura e o parapeito 8; não possuía fossos, e era feito de paliçadas cheias de terra e quadrangular.? De Laet J.; 1636; História ou Annaes dos feitos da Companhia Privilegiada das Indias Occidentaes desde o seu começo até o fim do anno de 1636; Rio de Janeiro; Officinas Graphicas da Bibliotheca Nacional; pp. p.11-13-60; » ix De Laet; 1636; p. 11; ?O inimigo havia pouco tempo montara um forte no lado Norte do rio da Paraíba, quase direito na entrada, mas (conforme os nossos estavam avisados) estava em parte aberto, e quase sempre guarnecido com pouca gente, porque o inimigo mal imaginava uma surpresa e em caso de assalto poderia ser facilmente socorrido pelo forte do Sul ou pela cidade por meio do rio.? x De Laet; 1636; p. 13; ?O Coronel nesse interim aproximando-se do forte Sto. Antônio mandou alguns adiante para reconhecer a posição do inimigo, os quais encontraram um reduto ao redor cheio de paliçadas, estendendo-se uma ao longo da praia até dentro do rio. A tropa atacou intrepidamente a fortificação, mas como não estivesse bem provida de machados e picaretas pouca vantagem teve e retirou-se com a perda de dois homens e, de alguns feridos. A força estando agora toda reunida acampou nessa noite no mato. No dia seguinte de manhã cedo começou o inimigo a atirar violentamente do forte centra os nossos, mas causou pouco dano, porque estavam protegidos pelo mato.? xi De Laet; 1636; p. 60; ?Este forte tinha cinco bons canhões de bronze e 19 de ferro, pólvora, balas, morrões feitos de plantas do país, e além disso farinha de mandioca. Os Portugueses chamavam-no forte de Sto. Antônio e fora construído havia pouco tempo com muita arte e à moda moderna e estava tão perto da angra que não tinha praia junto à base; também o montaram sem olhar às despesas.? Montanus Arnoldus; 1671; De Nieuwe en onbekende weereld [...] Amsterdam; Amsterdam; J. Meurs; ; Naber S.P. L?Honoré / J.C.M. Warnsinck ed; 1931; Iaerlyck verhael van de verrichtinghen der Geoctroyeerde West-Indische Compagnie in derthien boecken; The Hague; Werken Linschoten Vereeniging; ; Vol. vols. 34/35/38/ Nieuhoff Johan; 1682; Gedenkweerdige Brasiliaaense Zee- en Lant-Reize: Behelzende Al het geen op der dezelve is voorgevallen, beneffens een bondige beschrijving van gantsch Neerlants Brasil; Amsterdam; ; pp. p.39xii; » ?De vestingh op de Noorder-hoek van de riviere wiert by de Portugesen St. Antonio genoemt; en was in ?t vierkant gesticht, en besloegh een ront eilandtje, dat door eene kreke van het lant afgescheiden was. Het is een bolwerk van het oud vierkant fort, door de Portugesen gemaekt, het welk d? onzen, na de rest door de riviere weghgedreven en afgespeolt was, in de kelen gesloten hebben. Het is daer en boven met een ry palissaden aen d? eene zyde van de riviere, en aen de lantzyde met een stuk van d? oude gracht en kreek, omgeven. De wal vast en stijf, en van binnen met een baterye en zes ysere stukken voorzien. Deze vesting kon uit de stad Parayba een uit de vesting Margareta, aen de Zuider-oever, altijt beschermt worden: waerom de Portugesen die doorgaens ten dele open lieten leggen, en met weinigh volk bezet hielden.? Nieuhoff, Joan; 1942; Memorável viagem marítima e terrestre ao Brasil; São Paulo; Liv. Martins; pp. pp. 28 29-30; » O terceiro forte [Restinga] está situado numa ilha triangular, chamada restinga, não muito distante do anteriormente descrito, apenas um pouco mais para cima do rio. Era reforçado com paliçadas e, nas baterias, havia cinco canhões de bronze e outros tantos de ferro. Schamalkalden Caspar; 1998; Brasil Holandês Volume I. A Viagem de Caspar Schamalkalden de Amsterdã para Pernambuco no Brasil; Rio de Janeiro; Editora Index; pp. pp. 108-114; » ?Sobre a Fortaleza Margaretha. No citado rio Paraíba localizava-se ainda uma fortaleza chamada Santa Catarina, que se encontra em ruínas, por isso o Príncipe Mauricio mandou reconstruí-la e equipa-la com um fosso amplo e profundo e com parapeitos - como sinal de que agora estava submetida a uma potencia estrangeira. Recebeu o nome de sua irmã Margarethen. Do outro lado do rio, direção norte, havia outra fortaleza, chamada Santo Antonio, a qual há tempos o Príncipe [mandou] demolir e destruir para a redução de gastos desnecessários, [mandando] construir apenas uma guarita ou torre de vigia.?. |
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| Articles | Herckmans Elias;
1879;
'Generale beschrijvinge van de Capitanie Paraíba'; in
Bijdrage en mededelingen van het Historisch genootschap gevestigd te Utrecht; Vol.
II;
Utrecht; pp.
318-367 Moreno Diogo de Campo; 1984; 'Relação das Praças Fortes do Brasil 1609'; in Revista do Instituto Arqueológico Histórico Geográfico de Pernambuco; Vol. LVII; Recife; pp. 185-246 |
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