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4. Square Fortresses in America |
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1558 |
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La Real Fuerza (Cuba) |
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The castle of La Real Fuerza in the city of Havana begun construction in 1558 and was completed in 1582. This small castle is the second oldest in the New World. It was built on the water's edge on the site of an earlier stockade destroyed by French pirates in 1555. The defense of the harbour mouth of Havana was completed in 1589 with the castle of Los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro ("Headland of the Three Wise Men of the Orient") , and with the castle of San Salvador de la Punta. This third one was made by Italian military engineer Giovanni Batista Antonelli and was was finished in 1600. In moments of danger a big chain was placed across the river mouth between the Punta and the Morro forts to prevent ships from entering. |
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1672 |
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Castillo de San Marcos (St. Augustin, Florida) |
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The
history
of the castle start in 1564,
when the French settled Florida at Fort Caroline near modern day
Jacksonville, which was a clear threat to Spanish treasure ships. The
next year, Spaniards under the command of Pedro Méndez de Avilés
settled at St. Augustine to protect the sea route of ships
returning to Spain and slaughtered the French settlers. St. Augustin was
the first permanent European settlement in the North America, a century
before the Pilgrims first set foot onto Plymouth Rock.
The Castillo de San Marcos, built 1672-1695, served primarily as an
outpost of the Spanish Empire, guarding St.
Augustine. Although the Castillo
has served later to a number of nations throughout its history, it has
never been taken by military force. In May 2001, King Juan Carlos
I and Queen Sofía visit the Castillo de San Marcos. |
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