Latest / The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History / The Portuguese Fortress of Mazagan: A North African Stronghold
Transcript
- Lucas: So, we've talked a lot about Portugal's empire from the Indian Ocean to Brazil to Japan. But today I want to pull us back to something we haven't touched — Portugal's presence in North Africa, specifically a fortress called Mazagan. It's now the city of El Jadida in Morocco, but it was once a key stronghold for the Portuguese. Luna: Mazagan — I've heard the name but I don't know much about it. What made it special? Lucas: Well, it's one of the best-preserved Portuguese fortifications outside of Europe. But more than that, it tells a story of how Portugal tried to carve out a piece of North Africa, a kind of second front in their expansion, alongside the Atlantic islands and the route to India. The Portuguese took it in 1502, under King Manuel I, who saw it as a strategic foothold for controlling trade along the Moroccan coast and projecting power against the local dynasties. Luna: So it was part of that whole early 16th-century push into the Maghreb. Lucas: Exactly. Portugal already had Ceuta, Tangier, and other enclaves. But Mazagan was different because it became a true fortified city, not just a trading post. The Portuguese built a massive star-shaped fortress in the Renaissance style, designed by an Italian architect named Benedetto da Ravenna. It was meant to withstand artillery sieges, and it did — for centuries. Lucas: Before we dive deeper, if you're finding these episodes useful and you appreciate that they're ad-free, listener support is what keeps that going. You can help at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's a simple way to chip in. Anyway, back to Mazagan — the fortress had a population that was a mix of Portuguese soldiers, administrators, convicts, and even some Jewish merchants, who played a key role in the city's economy. Luna: That makes sense — a diverse community living inside a military outpost. Lucas: Right. And life there was tough. The climate was hot, supplies had to come by sea, and they were constantly under threat from Moroccan forces. But the Portuguese held on, and by the mid-1500s, Mazagan had become a major hub for trade in gold, ivory, and slaves from sub-Saharan Africa, coming in through the caravan routes. Luna: I imagine they faced some serious sieges. Lucas: The most famous one was in 1562. The Moroccan sultan Moulay Abdallah decided to try to retake the fortress. He assembled a huge army — tens of thousands of men — and laid siege for several months. But the Portuguese had strong walls, good artillery, and a determined garrison under the command of Dom Álvaro de Carvalho. They not only held out but launched a sortie that destroyed the Moroccan siege works and captured their artillery. It was a major victory that secured Portuguese control for another two centuries. Luna: That's incredible — a small force holding off a much larger army thanks to fortification design. Lucas: Exactly. The star fort design meant that any attacker would be caught in crossfire from multiple angles. And the Portuguese kept improving the defenses over time, adding bastions, a moat, and a citadel. It became a model for colonial fortifications elsewhere. Lucas: But by the 18th century, Portugal's priorities had shifted. Brazil was the real engine of the empire, and maintaining these North African outposts was expensive and strategically less important. In 1769, the Marquis of Pombal, the Portuguese prime minister, ordered the evacuation of Mazagan. The Portuguese dismantled what they could and sailed away, leaving the fortress intact but empty. Luna: Wait, they just abandoned it? What happened to the people? Lucas: The Portuguese inhabitants were relocated to Brazil, where they founded a new settlement called Nova Mazagão, in what is now the state of Amapá. So the name lived on across the Atlantic. As for the fortress itself, the Moroccans eventually moved in, but it fell into disrepair until the 20th century, when it was recognized as a historic site. Luna: So it's a UNESCO World Heritage site now, right? Lucas: Yes, since 2004 it's been listed as 'Portuguese City of Mazagan '. The cistern, the underground water reservoir, is particularly famous — it appears in films and has a beautiful reflecting pool that gives it an almost cathedral-like atmosphere. The whole place is a testament to Portuguese engineering and their long but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to hold territory in North Africa. Luna: It's fascinating how these imperial outposts leave such a lasting mark, even after the empire is gone. Lucas: Absolutely. And Mazagan is a perfect example of that — a piece of Portugal that still stands on the Moroccan coast, telling a story of ambition, resilience, and eventual retreat. I think it's a chapter of Portuguese history that deserves more attention. Luna: I agree. Thanks for bringing it up, Lucas.