Fort São Jerónimo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Fort of St. Jerome | |
|---|---|
 Fort of St. Jerome | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Coastal Fort |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | mostly intact |
| Location | |
  Fort of St. Jerome Location of Fort of St. Jerome  Fort of St. Jerome Fort of St. Jerome (India) | |
| Coordinates | 20°24′47″N 72°49′56″E / 20.41306°N 72.83222°E |
| Height | 40m |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1614 AD (groundbreaking) 1672 AD (completed) |
| Built by | Dom Jeronimo de Azevado |
| In use | Civilian use |
| Materials | Laterite stone and mud |
| Battles/wars | Siege of Daman (1638–1639) |
| Garrison information | |
| Current commander | none |
| Past commanders | Dom Franciso de Gama |
Fort São Jerónimo is a former Portuguese fortress located on the right bank of the Damanganga River, on the coast of the Gulf of Khambat, former parish of Damão Pequeno, in the city of Daman, India. Inside is the co-cathedral of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Seas (Nossa Senhora dos Mares in Portuguese).[1]
The incentive to build a stronghold or bulwark in Damão Pequeno may be related to the invasion of the Mughal army in 1611, in retaliation for the imprisonment in Surat of a merchant ship coming from Jeddah. Although Daman held out, the surrounding territory was pillaged. The population of Damão Pequeno had grown in importance and was beginning to concentrate much of the trade and population of the mouth of the Damanganga.[2] Thus, this fort complemented the defense of the region together with the Fortress of Daman, located on the opposite bank of the Damanganda.
Started in 1615, during the viceroyalty of Dom Jerónimo de Azevedo, the work was carried out by Júlio Simão, then chief engineer of the Portuguese State of India, although it may have been the responsibility of the rector of the Jesuit college of Damão, António Albertino, as the Jesuits were the administrators of the fortification works in Daman. Most of the work was completed by 1627.[2] In 1698 the fort had a garrison of 400 men at least.[3] In 1808 fort São Jerónimo housed 631 residents.[4] The fort was the place of the last public execution in the Portuguese empire shortly before the capital punishment was abolished in Portuguese territory, in 1870.[5]
