History Valdivian Fort System

the main fort in corral



general view of fort in corral




map of corral bay , location of coastal defences. 4 largest forts marked red



niebla fort s former headquarter (now museum), during representation of capture of valdivia

valdivia founded in 1552 spanish conquistador pedro de valdivia. years later in 1598 spaniards suffered several reversals in war of arauco, , defenceless city abandoned. in 1643 dutch arrived @ ruins , settled in zone, planning use valdivia base attacks on spanish empire. after conflicts mapuche indians of zone, dutch had leave valdivia.

it when pedro Álvarez de toledo y leiva, marquis of mancera ordered re-population of valdivia , construction of several forts. main forts built @ corral bay, other forts built protect city mapuches. city came called key of south sea , gibraltar of pacific.

the spanish crown perceived strategic nature of ghilets southernmost region which, through magallanes strait , cape horn, intermediate point navigation europe american pacific coast. end of 16th century, construction of fortifications in area became high priority due frequent transit of french, english , dutch ships and, particularly, pirates raids. destruction in chilean , peruvian coast caused francis drake in 1578, added expeditions of dutch hendrik brouwer, who, in 1643, occupied time littoral adjacent mouth of valdivia river, purpose of challenging there spanish might. these incidents led spanish authorities undertake construction of powerful defensive facilities in valdivia, valparaiso , chiloé. valdivia, oldest of three, become, along el callao, important defensive complex of american south pacific coast. both exceptional samples of hispanic-american school on fortifications. reason effort , resources invested in valdivia stem need of defending peru, colony along mexico constituted main source of wealth of spanish crown. in 1645, viceroy of peru, antonio de toledo, marquis of mancera, started execution of patiently designed defensive plan. 1 of fundamental aspects dispatch of great armada refound city of valdivia -devastated consequence of 1598 native revolt-, , raising of fortifications on coast. contingent in charge of mission organized in peru, , astounded contemporaries magnitude. seventeen ships gathered, equipped amount never seen before of building materials , supplies. original fortification plan based on using exceptional defensive qualities of corral bay, @ mouth of valdivia river. project contemplated building of 4 basic fortresses which, in case of attack, jointly operate cross-fire. in disposition of these 4 central points , in design of these bastions, topographical, geographical , environmental factors fitted together: sea currents, ground unevenness, prevailing winds, etc. although passage of time installations grew regard number of batteries, , role of 4 basic fortresses changed, original scheme remained unaltered, 4 sites retaining leading part: mancera island, corral, amargos , niebla. main bastion of defensive complex constantino island, later called mancera. island located in middie of bay valdivia river flows, , there san pedro de alcantara castle built according project designed navy chief engineer, constantino vasconcelos. castle, made of stone, armed fifteen pieces of artillery, , had moat , 2 turrets. inside it, among other installations, there church , 2 convents: 1 franciscan, , other augustinian. @ so-called punta de amargos, on southern side of valdivia river mouth, san luis de alba castle built, entirely of stone. had eleven pieces of artillery, due strategic position, couid batter down anchorage of enemy ships. castle isolated surroundings moat, crossed draw-bridge. aside quarters , commander s house, there chapel inside castle. @ end of 18th century, bastion reinforced, , buildings in brick added it. nowadays, none of inner constructions of complex remain standing, yet basic stone structure artillery pieces has survived , has been restored. fort of niebla stands on northern side of valdivia river mouth. built on cancagua stone slope 30 meters high, dominating entire bay , open sea. original design adapts site geography. fort of corral, south of said mouth, remodeled in second half of 18th century. consists in long battery facing sea: 24 cannons standing on solid stone wall. both inner constructions , defenses towards inland have vanished. in second half of 18th century, thorough plan carried forward restoring , improving fortresses. engineers josé birt , juan garland commissioned task. defensive complex of valdivia reached point of having 17 bastions, surveillance installations, castles, fortresses , batteries. complex exert during colony thoroughly efficacious deterrent effect, since, in fact, frustrated raids of rival powers. paradoxically, took these defenses pieces weren t european enemies, independentist patriots. @ time of chilean independence valdivia remained spanish stronghold, , perceived threat chile s independence lord cochrane, admiral of chilean navy captured forts in 1820 without facing batteries using surprise land assault. valdivia surrendered when news fall of corral fort came.

the 4 largest forts in system forts in corral bay controlled entry valdivia river, valdivia. other fortifications built defend city land attacks (mostly indigenous huilliches).

1 - fuerte aguada del inglés
2 - fuerte de san carlos
3 - batería del barro
4 - castillo de san luís de alba de amargos
5 - batería y reducto de chorocamayo
6 - castillo de san sebastián de la cruz fort (corral fort)


san sebastián de la cruz fort in corral @ southern side of corral bay headquarters of coastal defences. built in 1645 order of viceroy pedro Álvarez de toledo y leiva.


7 - castillo de san pedro de alcántara (isla mancera fort)


the fort of mancera island lies between niebla , corral. due strategical location, several times city of valdivia proposed moved small mancera island - proposal valdivias citizens opposed.


8 - batería del carbonero
9 - batería del piojo
10 - castillo de la pura y limpia concepción de monfort de lemus (niebla fort)


the fort in niebla faces corral fort , lies @ northern entrance of valdivia river. fort undergoing enlargement when works stopped in 1810. in 1834, when controlled chile worked deposit whole system.


san luis de alba fort (not shown in map)


san luis de alba fort located in shores cruces river north of valdivia. built secure land route (camino real) valdivia road passed river.


los torreones (not shown in map)


los torreones (spanish: towers) 2 towers built once in outskirts of valdivia protect city against land attacks. towers local landmark , used logo local newspaper el diario austral de valdivia.