Fortress of Our Lady of t

The Fortress of Our Lady of the Assumption is located on the left bank of the Pajeú stream , on the Marajaitiba hill, in the city of Fortaleza , on the coast of the Brazilian state of Ceará . It currently houses the headquarters of the 10th Military Region of the Brazilian Army .

History 

Background 

The present fortress was built in 1812, where it was erected in 1649 by the Dutch : the Schoonenborch Fort . With the surrender of the Dutch, the Portuguese Crown took possession of the fortification, renaming it as Fort of Our Lady of the Assumption .

The Fortress of Our Lady of the Assumption 

After the fortress of Our Lady of the Assumption ( 1812 ), the governor of the then Province of Ceará, Manuel Inácio de Sampaio and Pina Freire , began a new structure for the defense of that Capital. The cornerstone was launched on October 12, 1812, in honor of the anniversary of the " serene Mr. Prince of Beira, Mr. Pedro de Alcântara ." 

The plan , designed by Lieutenant Colonel Engineer António José da Silva Paulet , who directed his construction, has the shape of a square with 90 meters of side, with bastions at the vertices, under the invocation, respectively, of Our Lady of the Assumption (northeast), São José (southeast), Don João (northwest) and Prince da Beira (southwest). Initially donated with five pieces, it was funded by public funds (20: 362 $ 390 réis ) and private donations (16: 113 $ 267 réis), besides donations of materials and services , volunteers and slaves . GARRIDO reports that, in 1816 , the fortress was harnessed with twenty-seven pieces. 

A memorial stone , placed on the north wall at the opening of the fortress , prays in Latin :

" Inform me, give me carinae, Nunc arcem magnum respectu pavescunt:

Hic me Sampaius, sixth regnante Joanne,

Fundavit pulchram; Pauleti refulget.

Armis me fortem civilia dona

Muris strengthen me reddunt stipendia Regis. "

" The ships mocked me when I was a formless mountain: now that I am a great fortress, they are respected from afar. Here, reigning D. John VI , Sampaio founded me beautiful, the mill of Paulet resplendent The donations of the citizens made me strong by the walls, and the royal expenses make me strong by the arms. " 

The same author indicates that, at the time ( 1958 ), this tombstone was in the Museum of the State of Ceará . 

In the context of the Pernambuco Revolution of 1817 , Bárbara de Alencar , a revolutionary leader in Crato , Ceará, who was considered the first political prisoner of Brazilian history, was detained in one of the cells of this fortification. 

In 1821 , Governor Francisco Alberto Rubim requested $ 200,000 for the completion of his works, which occurred the following year ( August 17 , 1822 ). BARRETTO (1958) informs that its artillery was increased to thirty-one pieces of different calibers from 1829 . 

The Map attached to the Report of the Ministry of War of 1847 points to ruin, giving it as artillery with twenty pieces. GARRIDO (1940) informs that it received repairs in 1856 . The following year, classified as a fortification of 2nd Class (February 11, 1857 ), it was harnessed with thirty-two pieces: twenty-six of smooth soul (four of caliber 25 pounds, two of 18, nine of 12, five of 6, and 6 of 3), and 6 bronze La Hitte , raiadas, caliber 12. It was valued at 125: 000 $ 000 réis ( March 3 , 1858 ). It was repaired in the context of the Christie Question (1862-1865), in 1875 , in 1883 (5,000,000 réis), and in 1886 , when it was again considered as second class.

Between 1846 and 1857 new buildings were erected to him, which they housed diverse military units like the 11th and 15th battalions of Infantry , the Military School of Ceará , the 22nd and 23rd battalions of Hunters, among others.

From the 20th century to the present 

At the beginning of the Old Republic , in 1895 it presented two batteries arranged in floors and a battery to rider. 

Also known as Turtle Fort , it was well preserved ( 1906 ), and unarmed ( 1910 ). At the time of World War I (1914-1918) was garrisoned, between 1917 and 1918 , by the 1st Independent Battery of the 3rd Artillery District of Costa, under the command of Captain Bernardino Chaves . BARRETTO (1958) complemented that the barracks adjacent to the fortress, which housed the garrison, was occupied by the 46th Independent Battery, later 46th Shore Battery. At the time (1958), it held the headquarters of the 10th Military Region , a function that has preserved ever since.

The fort can be visited by prior appointment with the Social Communication of the Military Region. The visit is made in the company of a military man who discusses topics of interest about the monument, namely the square of arms, the cell where Bárbara de Alencar was detained and the fort chapel.

Source: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortaleza_de_Nossa_Senhora_da_Assunção