Fortress of São Lourenço
Original title: Fortaleza de S. Lourenço
The Fortress of São Lourenço in Funchal, begun under King Manuel I and completed under Philippine rule, was stormed by French pirates in 1566. It later housed a chapel and various public buildings.
Abroad
History and features of the fortress
Begun in the reign of Manuel I as a simple bastion, the fortress was successively altered in the reigns of John III and King Sebastian and completed under Philippine rule (Spanish Habsburg rule over Portugal, 1580–1640). In 1566 it was stormed by pirates from the north side, where the wall rose only 12 palmos high. Montluc seized a house opposite and from there had the turret and other parts of the fort raked with fire. The gate of the bastion was then forced, and 250 people, both defenders and others who had taken refuge there, were put to the sword.
The east tower bears, in carved dressed stone (cantaria), the arms of Portugal, the ducal crown, two armillary spheres, the emblem of Manuel I, and a Cross of the Order of Christ. The north bastion bore, in white marble, the arms of Castile, onto which those of Portugal were later grafted; its projecting section was cut back in 1917 to align the Avenida Dr Manuel de Arriaga.
The chapel of São Lourenço (St Lawrence) was built within the precinct of the Old Fortress in 1635, and from then on the fortress was called the Fortress of São Lourenço.
The royal decree (alvará) appointing the 1st constable is dated 20 June 1566 and was issued in favour of Gonçalo Fernandes, who came from Lisbon. The fortress was garrisoned by 24 gunners at 30 réis (old Portuguese money of account; 1$000 = 1,000 réis, 1:000$000 = one conto = 1,000,000 réis) a day, rising in 1753 to 80 réis.
The 1st chaplain was Father José da Costa, in 1641. He was ordered to be given 44, as was done for any soldier on enlisting, and he drew a gunner’s pay, with the obligation of saying Mass there on Sundays and holy days.
Various public buildings were constructed in the Fortress of São Lourenço, around the large square inner courtyard and the north bastion. (See the São Lourenço Palace.)
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 05-
A charter appointed Gonçalo Fernandes first constable of the fortress of São Lourenço.
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French Huguenot corsairs under Montluc, guided by Gaspar Caldeira, landed at Praia Formosa and sacked Funchal, storming the fortress of São Lourenço, profaning the cathedral and the Santa Clara convent, whose nuns fled to the Curral; Gaspar de Braga died resisting them. The attack, during the captaincy of Francisco Gonçalves da Câmara, prompted new coastal fortifications.
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The chapel of São Lourenço was built inside the Funchal fortress, which then took its name; the date is inscribed over the chapel door.
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Padre José da Costa de Lima was appointed first chaplain of the chapel of the São Lourenço fortress, the earliest known such warrant.
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Gunners' daily pay at the Fortress of São Lourenço rose from 30 to 80 réis.
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The salient of the north bastion of the Fortaleza de São Lourenço was cut to align the Avenida Dr. Manuel de Arriaga.
Place
Places mentioned · 05- Fortress of São Lourenço · Subject
Funchal
The Fortress of São Lourenço in Funchal was begun under King Manuel I and completed under Philippine rule. It was stormed by French pirates in 1566 and later housed a chapel and various public buildings.
- Avenida Doutor Manuel de Arriaga
Funchal. Avenue for whose alignment the north bastion's salient was cut in 1917.
Avenida Dr. Manuel de Arriaga is an avenue in Funchal built from 1914. Its construction absorbed the Praça da Constituição and the Jardim Pequeno, and in 1917 the salient of the north bastion of the Fortaleza de São Lourenço was cut for its alignment. It was the original site of the Conde de Canavial's bust, opposite the cathedral, and the scene of the Unknown Soldier ceremonies.
- Chapel of St Lawrence
Calheta. Chapel built in 1635 inside the fortress, giving it its name.
The notes combine two chapels of São Lourenço. One is an old chapel in Fajã da Ovelha that served as the parish seat for almost two centuries. The other was built in 1635 inside the Funchal fortress of São Lourenço and gave the fortress its name; the Saint Barbara procession began there, it once held her image, and it formed part of the palace but disappeared in the third quarter of the 19th century.
- Lisbon
Portugal. Place from which the first constable came.
The Portuguese capital, seat of the Relação court and of the Misericórdia whose privileges and statutes were extended to Funchal. Henrique Franco de Sousa studied at its Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and Luiz José Baiardo moved there in 1821.
- São Lourenço Palace
Funchal. Palace formed by public buildings within the fortress.
The Palácio de São Lourenço, the governors' palace-fortress in Funchal, was the scene of beija-mão ceremonies, receptions, balls and dinners, and of the 1861 exhibition. The Elucidário records a great fire there in 1699, a natural history museum in 1850, and an attempt by soldiers to enter it in 1829. The Teatro Grande stood opposite it.
People
People mentioned · 06- Gonçalo Fernandesd. 1539
First constable of the fortress, appointed from Lisbon by charter of 20 June 1566.
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King of Portugal under whom the fortress was modified.
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First chaplain of the fortress (1641), paid as an artilleryman to say Sunday and holy-day Mass.
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King of Portugal under whom the fortress was further modified.
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King of Portugal in whose reign the fortress was begun as a simple bastion.
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Leader of the French pirates who stormed the fortress in 1566.