Fort Emmanuel

15.04.2024

Fort Emmanuel

Why in the news?                          

            According to recent reports, history lovers are demanding steps to preserve the laterite-brick remains of Fort Emmanuel.

Important points:

• More and more people want to see the 'Fort' on the Fort Kochi beach, which saw the arrival of three colonial powers – the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English.
• The fort, which was a Portuguese stronghold, extends from the Bastion Bungalow (now a heritage museum) to the southern end of the beach, where the Indian Navy's gunnery school, INS Dronacharya, starts.

About Fort Emmanuel:

• Fort Emmanuel is a ruined fort located on the Fort Kochi Beach in Kochi, Kerala.
• It was originally built in 1503, with reinforcements in 1538.
• A part of Fort Emmanuel in Fort Kochi has a cannon placed on top of it.
• It symbolized the strategic alliance between the Maharaja of Kochi and the Emperor of Portugal, after whom it was named Fort Emmanuel.
• It was a huge structure and the entire settlement was within its limits.
• Fort Kochi remained under Portuguese occupation until 1683, when Dutch colonial troops occupied the area and destroyed Portuguese institutions.
• Much of Fort Emmanuel, built by the Portuguese on the Kochi beach, was destroyed by the Dutch in 1503.
• The Dutch held the fort until 1795, when the British defeated the Dutch and captured it.
• By 1806, the Dutch and later the British had destroyed most of the fort's walls and its bastions.
• Foreign control over Fort Kochi ended with Indian independence in 1947.
• At present only the remains of this fort exist, which remind us of its historical importance.
• Most of the remains of this fort remain submerged along the coast.

Current status and conservation of Fort Emmanuel:

• Most of the remains of Fort Emmanuel remain submerged along the coast, making them difficult for visitors to see.
• Efforts are being made to excavate the area, uncover the remains and reconstruct parts of the fort using laterite bricks.
• The preservation of this fort is important for tourism, as it is a reminder of colonial strategies and their impact on trade routes.

                                  Source: Indian Express