Porto Santo (Raids on the Island of) / Porto Santo (Saques na ilha do)

The small and isolated island of Porto Santo was repeatedly raided and plundered by corsairs and pirates. Although they could not find rich and abundant prey there, they could at least count on complete impunity and the hasty flight of the inhabitants to the mountaintops, leaving the field open to the rapacity of the assailants. The crown of Pico do Castelo, difficult to access and whose ascent could be easily prevented by those who attempted it, primarily served as a refuge for the poor residents of the neighboring island, seeking shelter from the ferocity of the pirates. The rugged mountain only had a regular defense with its cannons and battlements in the early 18th century. Before this time, the inhabitants had only the steep slopes of the peak as a defense, where simple rolling stones were enough to prevent any assault. The fort of the village, named S. José in honor of King D. José I, was built during the time of the Marquis of Pombal. Prior to this period, we do not know what defense elements Porto Santo had in the event of an attack, but they would have been very weak and useless, as there is no record of any resistance to the various assaults by pirates (see Preston). The earliest raid of which there is record was carried out by French pirates on October 2, 1566, and the following day they landed in Funchal, giving the city the terrible assault that the Madeiran chronicles speak of with such horror. In 1617, the Moroccans raided Porto Santo, looting the village and, among other damages, causing the complete destruction of the municipal and parish church archives. The same occurred in 1667. On December 11, 1690, two French privateers