Fortaleza de São Sebastião: Difference between revisions

|name = Fortaleza de São Sebastião

|built = 1635-1681

|controlledby = {{flagcountry|Portuguese Empire}} <small>(1681-1961)</small><br/> {{flagcountry|India}} <small>(1961-)</small>

O '''Fortaleza de São Sebastião''', also called the '''Tivim fort''' after the village where a part of the long wall structure was once located. The structure spans from the village of [[Tivim]], to the area known as Colvale, in [[Goa]], on the west coast of India. Currently, most of it is in ruins and barely visible. However, parts of the structure are in the process of being restored.

It is one in a series of three forts, stretching the length of the Tivim canal - which connects the [[Moira River (Goa)|Moira River]] to the [[Chapora River]]. The other forts are:

* [[Forte de Assumpção (Tivim)|Forte de Assumpção]]

* [[Forte de Meio (Tivim)|Forte de Meio]]

This fortification was built in 1635 on the orders of the then Viceroy of the [[Portuguese India|Estado Português da Índia]], [[Miguel de Noronha, 4th Count of Linhares|D. Miguel de Noronha]], [[Counts and dukes of Linhares|conde de Linhares]]. The fortifications were completed in the year 1681 by the Count of Alvor as a barrier to safeguard the [[Bardez]] frontier against first the [[Bahamani]]s and later the [[Maratha]]s. The fortifications consisted of a canal with a high wall on its western bank which served as a moat. It also consisted of a series of guard houses at least three of which are still identifiable ruins.  

In 1739, it was again occupied by the Marathas, but for 2 years until it was recaptured by [[Luís Carlos Inácio Xavier de Meneses, 1st Marquis of Louriçal]]. The fortification was garrisoned by Portuguese troops until they were withdrawn in 1841 when they were moved to they nearby town of [[Mapuça]]. [[Mapuça]] The fortification gradually lost its strategic importance; it had for a few years been abandoned and neglected. It is now being restored under the auspices of the Directorate of Archives and Archaeology in Goa.<ref>Archives Archichologicalhttp://daa.goa.gov.in </ref>

The ruins and site of the fort have been protected by the Government of Goa, Daman and Diu (now the [[Government of Goa]]) as a historical heritage site since 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://goaprintingpress.gov.in/uploads/Ancient%20Monuments%20and%20Archaeological%20Sites.pdf|title = Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites|website = Goa Printing Press}}</ref>

The fortress was primarily built of brick and stone and mud and was a long wall which ran alongside the western bank of a canal. In addition, there were at least three guardhouses which contained forces to guard the area. On the exterior the fort had high walls to stop enemies from crossing into the area, known as [[Bardez|Bardes]]. It is believed that the interior of the fort once had the [[bastions]] and cannons of the Portuguese rulers, but since most of the fort is ruined in the present day, very few traces of them remain to be seen.