Fort Santo Estevão
Built on the highest point of Santo Estevão Island, it was originally built as a watchtower to guard the Mandovi River, in 1550. It was the easternmost defensive structure in the Velhas Conquistas. After the first Maratha incursions against Goa, in 1666-1668, during which they destroyed a local church, The structure was expanded into a small fort. In 1683, the Marathas attacked Goa and managed to breach into the island of Santo Estevão because the corps of auxiliaries tasked with defending it fled from their enemy. The Marathas captured the fort and massacred its garrison.
After the annexation of the Novas Conquistas, the fort lost its military purpose. It was abandoned in 1811 by decree of the Viceroy of India Dom Bernardo José Maria da Silveira e Lorena.
Restoration works were undertaken on the fort in 2012.
See also
References
- ^ Nuno Miguel de Pinho Lopes: O Sistema Defensivo de Goa, Universidade de Coimbra, 2017, pp.111-120.
- ^ José Nicolau da Fonseca: An Historical and Archæological Sketch of the City of Goa: Preceded by a Short Statistical Account of the Territory of Goa, Thacker & Company, limited, 1878, p.288.
- ^ Joaquim Heliodoro da Cunha Rivara, Charles J. Borges: Goa and the Revolt of 1787, Concept Publishing Company, 1996, p.225.
- ^ António Lopes Mendes: A India portugueza: breve descrupção das possessões portuguezas na Asia, dividida em dois volumes, illustrados com 382 gravures e 7 mappas, , Volume 1, Imprensa nacional, 1886, p.63.
- ^ Joaquim Pedro Celestino Soares: Bosquejo das possessoes portuguezas no Oriente ou resumo de algumas derrotas da India e da China, Imprensa nacional, 1851, p.32.
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