The Lines of Torres Vedras were lines of forts and other military defences built in secrecy to defend Lisbon, capital of Portugal, from the French during the Peninsular War. Named after the town of Torres Vedras, their construction was ordered by the commander of the British troops, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. The Lines were declared a National Heritage by the Portuguese Government in March 2019.[1]
![](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/FortAlqueid%C3%A3o1.jpg/220px-FortAlqueid%C3%A3o1.jpg)
In total, 152 military works were carried out from October 1809 to 1812 by Portuguese workers supervised by British engineers. Most involved completely new constructions, although some existing structures, such as the castle at Torres Vedras, were adapted and it was also common to incorporate existing hilltop windmills in the designs. Some of the forts remain visible and 29 are maintained by the municipalities of Torres Vedras, Arruda dos Vinhos, Loures, Mafra, Sobral de Monte Agraço, and Vila Franca de Xira.[2] Much restoration work was carried out to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Lines.
Forts
editIndicates restored and maintained fort |
Number | Name | District | Men | Guns | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1A | Battery of Tejo | Alhandra | 1,000 | 4 | [3] |
1B | Entrenchments | 2 | |||
1C | Battery of Estrada | 1 | |||
1D | Battery of Estrada | 2 | |||
1E | Battery of Estrada Real | 7 | |||
1F | Battery of Subida | 2 | |||
2 | Battery of Conde | 800 | 2 | ||
3 | Redoubt of Boa Vista | 200 | 2 | ||
4 | Battery of São Fernando | Unknown | 2 | ||
5 | Redoubt Serra do Formoso | 120 | 3 | ||
5A | Battery of Antas | 2 | |||
5B | Battery 1a of Alfarge | 2 | |||
5C | Battery 2a of Alfarge | 3 | |||
5D | Battery 1a of Bulhaco | 2 | |||
5E | Battery 2a of Bulhaco | 2 | |||
5F | Battery 1a of Serra do Pinheiro | 2 | |||
5G | Battery 2a of Serra do Pinheiro | 1 | |||
6 | Battery of Meldros | Unknown | 2 | ||
7 | Fort of Calhandriz | 200 | 3 | ||
8 | Fort of Trancoso | 200 | 3 | ||
9 | Fort of Casal do Cego | 280 | 3 | ||
10 | Fort of Carvalha | 400 | 3 | ||
11 | Fort of Moinho do Céu | 300 | 4 | ||
12 | Fort of Passo | Sobral | 120 | 3 | |
13 | Fort of Caneira | 120 | 2 | ||
14 | Fort of Alqueidão | 1,590 | 25 | ||
15 | Fort of Machado | 460 | 7 | ||
16 | Fort of Trinta | 250 | 4 | ||
17 | Fort of Simplício | 300 | 8 | ||
18 | Fort of Ajuda Grande | Bucelas | 300 | 4 | |
19 | Fort of Ajuda Pequeno | 200 | 3 | ||
20 | Fort of São Vicente | Torres Vedras | 470 | 8 | |
21 | Fort of São Vicente | 270 | 7/9 | ||
22 | Fort of São Vicente | 380 | 9 | ||
23 | Redoubt of Olheiros | 180 | 7 | ||
24 | Redoubt of Forca | 300 | 7 | ||
25 | Fort of São João | 200 | 2 | ||
26 | Fort of Ordasqueira | 300 | 3 | ||
27 | Castle of Torres Vedras | 500 | 5 | ||
28 | Fort Pequeno da Enxara | Portela | 270 | 3 | |
29 | Fort Grande da Enxara | 280 | 4 | [4] | |
30 | Redoubt of Grilo | Torres Vedras | 340 | 4 | |
31 | Redoubt of Alquiteria | 370 | 3 | ||
32 | Fort of Formigal | 260 | 4 | ||
33 | Fort of Salgado | Bucelas | 300 | 4 | |
34 | Fort of Curral | 200 | 3 | ||
35 | Redoubt of Quintela Pequeno | 120 | 4 | ||
36 | Redoubt of Quintela Grande | 370 | 9 | ||
37 | Fort of Abrunheira | 50 | 3 | ||
38 | Fort of Casa | 340 | 5 | ||
39 | Fort of Quintela Reentrante | 340 | 8 | ||
40 | Fort of Aguieira | 150 | Unknown | ||
41 | Redoubt of Portela Grande | 240 | 5 | ||
42 | Fort of Portela Pequeno | 350 | 6 | ||
43 | Battery of Vizo | Unknown | 4 | ||
44 | Battery of Cachada | 2 | |||
45 | Battery of Penedos | 3 | |||
46 | Battery of Oliveiras | 2 | |||
47 | Battery of Galvões | 3 | |||
48 | Fort of Tojal | 200 | 2 | ||
49 | Fort of Picoto | Montachique | Unknown | 2 | |
50 | Redoubt of Quadradinho | 160 | 2 | ||
51 | Fort of Freixial | 300 | 4 | ||
52 | Fort of Capitão | 190 | 3 | ||
53 | Fort of Presinheira | 230 | 2 | ||
54 | Fort of Moinho | 210 | 0 | ||
55 | Fort of Vale | 150 | 3 | ||
56 | Fort of Permouro | Mafra | 150 | 2 | |
57 | Fort of Mosqueiro | Montachique | 270 | 3 | |
58 | Fort of Carrascal | 310 | 3 | ||
59 | Fort of Moinho da Carambela | 260 | 4 | ||
60 | Redoubt of Achada 1 | 150 | 2 | ||
61 | Redoubt of Achada 2 | 190 | 2 | ||
62 | Fort of Alto do Cheira | 390 | 3 | ||
63 | Fort of Casal da Serra | 280 | 3 | ||
64 | Fort of Canto do Muro da Tapada | 210 | 3 | ||
65 | Fort of Santa Maria | 270 | 3 | ||
66 | Fort of Feira | 350 | 4 | ||
67 | Fort of Cabeço Gordo | 120 | 2 | ||
68 | Fort of Matoutinho | 260 | 4 | ||
69 | Fort of Quinta do Fidalgo | 240 | 4 | ||
70 | Fort of Quinta do Estrangeiro | 240 | 6 | ||
71 | Fort of Portela | 240 | 4 | ||
72 | Fort of Estrada | 130 | 2 | ||
73 | Fort of Coutada | 340 | 3 | ||
74 | Fort of Casal da Pedra | Mafra | 190 | 2 | |
75 | Fort of Milhariça | 70 | 2 | ||
76 | Fort of Sonível | 390 | 4 | ||
77 | Fort of Juncal | 380 | 4 | ||
78 | Fort of Telhadouro | 110 | 3 | ||
79 | Fort of Gio | 270 | 3 | [5] | |
80 | Fort of Quinta da Boa Viagem | 310 | 3 | ||
81 | Fort of Serra de Chipre | 280 | 3 | ||
82 | Fort of Patarata | 210 | 4 | ||
83 | Fort of Meio | 240 | 3 | ||
84 | Fort of Curral do Linho | 290 | 3 | ||
85 | Fort of Areeiro | 290 | 3 | ||
86 | Fort of Nossa Senhora da Paz | 280 | 3 | ||
87 | Fort of Pinheiro | 340 | 3 | ||
88 | Fort of Cabeço do Neto | 200 | 3 | ||
89 | Fort of Moxarro | 310 | 3 | ||
90 | Fort of Penegache | 230 | 3 | ||
91 | Fort of Algoa | 200 | 3 | ||
92 | Fort of Picoto | 180 | 3 | ||
93 | Fort of Marvão | 330 | 3 | ||
94 | Fort of Ribamar | 320 | 2 | ||
95 | Fort of Zambujal | 250 | 2 | ||
96 | Fort of Carvoeira | 280 | 3 | ||
97 | Fort of São Julião | 350 | 2 | ||
98 | Fort of Algueirão | São Julião | 1,340 | 26 | |
99 | Battery of Arieiro | 70 | 6 | ||
100 | Battery of Estrada | 50 | 5 | ||
101 | Redoubt no.1 of Medrosa | 250 | 10 | ||
102 | Redoubt no.2 of Medrosa | 260 | 8 | ||
103 | Redoubt no.1 of Antas | 130 | 3 | ||
104 | Redoubt no.2 of Antas | 100 | 2 | ||
105 | Redoubt no.3 of Antas | 170 | 2/4 | ||
106 | Redoubt of Lomba | 320 | 6 | ||
107 | Redoubt of Quinta Nova | 800 | 6 | ||
108 | Redoubt of Junqueiro | 360 | 6 | ||
109 | Redoubt of Figueirinha | 500 | 8 | ||
110 | Fortified line 103–coast | 1,000 | 3 | ||
111 | Fort of Passo | Torres Vedras | 250 | 5 | |
112 | Fort of Gentias | 220 | 4 | ||
113 | Battery of Foz | 50 | 2 | ||
114 | Fort no.1 of Subserra | Alhandra | 100 | 2/3 | |
114A | Battery Nova de Subserra | 2 | |||
115 | Fort no.2 of Subserra | 100 | 2 | ||
116 | Fort no.3 of Subserra | 100 | 5 | ||
116A | Battery annex for Fort no.3 of Subserra | Unknown | |||
116B | Battery do Casal da Entrega | 4 | |||
117 | Redoubt Novo da Costa da Freiria | 150 | Unknown | ||
118 | Fort of Sinais | 400 | 8 | ||
119 | Redoubt of Dois Moinhos | 350 | 6 | ||
119A | No proof built, but 119B exists | ||||
119B | Fort of Subida da Serra | Alhandra | 2 | ||
120 | Fort Novo do Formoso | 130 | 2 | ||
121 | Fort no.1 of Calhandriz | 250 | 4 | ||
122 | Fort no.2 of Calhandriz | 300 | 3 | ||
123 | Fort no.3 of Calhandriz | 300 | 4 | ||
124 | Fort no.4 of Calhandriz | Montachique | 350 | 4 | |
124A | Battery of Calhandriz | 2 | |||
125 | Fort of Serra de Arpim | 250 | 4 | ||
126 | Fort Novo do Cabo | Bucelas | 188 | 2 | |
127 | Fort of Moinho | 154 | Unknown | ||
128 | Fort of Archeira | Portela | 500 | 6 | |
129 | Fort of Feiteira | 350 | 6 | ||
130 | Fort of Catefica | 200 | 5 | ||
131 | Battery of Cruz | Torres Vedras | 90 | 4 | |
132 | Battery of Palheiros | 150 | 6 | ||
133 | Battery of Pedrulhos | 120 | 4 | ||
134 | Battery of Outeiro da Prata | 110 | 4 | ||
135 | Battery of Carrasqueira | 160 | 4 | ||
136 | Battery of Milharosa | 150 | 4 | ||
137 | Battery of Outeiro da França | 100 | 4 | ||
138 | Battery of Pombal | 100 | 2 | ||
139 | Battery of Bordinheira | 160 | 4 | ||
140 | Battery of Outeiro do Monte | 120 | 4 | ||
141 | Battery of Mogo | 180 | 4 | ||
142 | Battery of Bonabal | 150 | 4 | ||
143 | Fort of Galpeira | 150 | 4 | ||
144 | Battery of Mouguelas | 130 | 4 | ||
145 | Fort of Belmonte | 250 | 4 | ||
146 | Fort of Bececarias | 250 | 6 | ||
147 | Battery of Ponte do Rol I | 0 | Unknown | ||
148 | Battery of Ponte do Rol II | 0 | |||
149 | Fort Novo da Ordasqueira | 250 | 6 | ||
150 | Battery of Ribaldeira | Portela | 250 | 6 | |
151 | Redoubt of Patameira | 300 | Unknown | ||
152 | Fort Novo | Sobral | 250 | 6 |
Citations
edit- ^ "Governo classifica Linhas de Torres Vedras como monumento nacional". Observador. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Forts restored and maintained by the Municipalities". Friends of the Lines of Torres Vedras. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
- ^ Thompson (2021), p. 198.
- ^ Thompson (2021), p. 199.
- ^ Thompson (2021), p. 200.
References
edit- Thompson, Mark S. (2021). Wellington and the Lines of Torres Vedras. Warwick: Helion. ISBN 978-1-914059-85-8.
External links
edit- Media related to Lines of Torres Vedras at Wikimedia Commons
- Friends of the Lines of Torres Vedras
- British Historical Society of Portugal, which organizes regular guided visits to the forts.
- Photographs and map of fort locations