Bot at 17:10, 4 November 2022

2022-11-04T17:10:48Z

New page

{{Infobox Military Structure
|name = Fort Tiracol
|native_name = Forte Tiracol
|partof = [[Goa]]
|image =
|caption =
|map_type =
|map_size = 280
|map_caption =
|type = [[Fort]] and [[Church (building)|Church]]
|coordinates=
|code =
|built = 17th century
|builder = Raja of [[Sawantwadi]] <br /> Viceroy Pedro Miguel de Almeida
|materials = [[Granite]] [[rock (geology)|Stones]] and [[lime mortar]]
|height =
|used =
|demolished = n/a
|condition = [[Restored]] as a luxury hotel. <br /> Church still in use.
|open_to_public = Yes
|controlledby = [[Government of Goa]]
|garrison = none
|current_commander = none
|occupants = Staff and Parishioners
|battles = 4
|events =
}}
'''Fort Tiracol''', is a Portuguese era fort near the village of [[Tiracol]], in the [[North Goa]] district of [[Goa]], [[India]]. At the mouth of the [[Terekhol River]], the fort can be reached by a ferry from [[Querim]], {{convert|42|km|abbr=on}} north of [[Panaji]].

==History==
It is believed that the fort was originally crudely built by Khem Sawant Bhonsle, the Raja of [[Sawantwadi State|Sawantwadi]], in the 17th century.<ref name="Bharat Online">{{cite web|url=http://www.bharatonline.com/goa/goa-travel/pernem/terekhol-fort.html |title=Terekhol Fort |publisher=Bharatonline.com |access-date=13 March 2011}}</ref> The site chosen was a hillock on the Northern (right) bank of the river, which gave a commanding view of the Arabian sea. The Bhonsles of Sawantwadi kept a sizeable fleet of navy vessels which sheltered in the Tiracol River. The fort initially consisted of 12 guns, a barrack and a chapel.<ref name="Sawants of Wadi">{{cite book |title=Sawants of Wadi - Coastal Politics in 18th and 19th Centuries |last=Mhamai
|first=S. K. |year=1984 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |location=New Delhi |pages=56–58 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kUZSHKhKJ4gC |access-date=13 March 2011}}</ref>

In 1746, the Portuguese under the 44th Viceroy of Goa, [[Pedro Miguel de Almeida]] waged war against the Raja of Sawantwadi, as a retaliation to constant border raids. On 16 November 1746, de Almeida brought the Portuguese fleet up to the River, waged a fierce maritime engagement against the naval forces of the Raja of Sawantwadi in which the Portuguese defeated the Sawantwadi forces utterly. Several skirmishes on land followed and Fort Tiracol was finally surrendered on 23 November 1746 to the Portuguese.<ref name="Sawants of Wadi"/>

The fort became an important part of Portuguese maritime defences; being extensively revamped in 1764. It remained in Portuguese control till December 1961 when the last of Portuguese territorial positions in the subcontinent were forcibly annexed by India.

On 17 February 1819, following the defeat of the Marathas, a treaty was signed by Raja Bhonsle Khem Sawunt of [[Sawantwadi State|Sawantwadi]] who recognised British suzerainty. This treaty effectively abolished the strategic importance of the fort, as it became an enclave in territory controlled by British allies.<ref>{{cite book |title=British and foreign state papers, Volume 12 |last=Great Britain. Foreign and Commonwealth Office |year=1846 |publisher=H.M.S.O. |page=489 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_5cAAAAAYAAJ&q=editions%3Apv5UcL6Z5iAC&pg=PA489 |access-date=13 March 2011}}</ref>

During the [[Portuguese Civil War]], the fort served as a rebel stronghold during an uprising in 1825 against the Portuguese led by Dr. Bernardo Peres da Silva, the first Goan born [[List of governors of Portuguese India|Viceroy of Goa]]. It was greatly damaged but the fort and the chapel were later rebuilt.<ref name="Bharat Online"/> A ruthless Commandant, "Tiger-killer" da Cunha entered the fort and ordered the beheading of the entire garrison and the placing of the heads on stakes.<ref name="Bradnocks">{{cite book |title=Footprint Goa Handbook: The Travel Guide |last=Bradnock |first=Robert |edition= 3rd (illustrated) |author2=Bradnock, Roma |year=2002 |publisher=Footprint handbooks |isbn=978-1-903471-22-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pWAnvOJD1qwC |access-date=8 February 2011}}</ref>

Fort Tiracol was a symbolic location where freedom fighters from Goa demonstrated from time to time.<ref name="Bradnocks"/> On 15 August 1954, Satyagrahis protesting Portuguese rule entered Goa from three different directions - one of which was from the North to Fort Tiracol, which was occupied and flew the Indian flag for a day before they were captured and imprisoned.<ref name="Bradnocks"/><ref name="Mody">{{cite book |title=Women in India's freedom struggle |last=Mody |first=Nawaz B. |year=2000 |publisher=Allied Publishers |isbn=978-81-7764-070-0 |page=323 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8RFuAAAAMAAJ&q=Terekhol+fort |access-date=13 March 2011}}</ref>

Now, Fort Tiracol has been converted into a hotel, called the [http://www.forttiracol.in Fort Tiracol Heritage].

==Igreja de Santo Antônio==
A Chapel for the Holy Trinity was constructed in the fort courtyard by de Almeida after its capture. This later became the century-old Church of St. Anthony.<ref name="Bradnocks"/> The church is not open to the general public except on certain occasions, such as the annual feast that is usually held in May.<ref name="Bharat Online"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Fort Tiracol}}
* [http://indiatourism.ws/goa/fort_tiracol/ Fort Tiracol] - spherical panorama 360°.

{{Forts and fortresses of the Portuguese empire|state=collapsed}}
{{Forts in India|state=collapsed}}
{{Coord|15.7306|N|73.682|E|display=title|source:Google Earth}}

[[Category:Forts in Goa|Tiracol]]
[[Category:Portuguese forts in India|Tiracol]]
[[Category:Colonial Goa]]
[[Category:1749 establishments in India]]
[[Category:1740s in Portuguese India]]
[[Category:17th-century forts in India|Tiracol]]

Fort Tiracol - Revision history

Bot at 17:10, 4 November 2022