English

From Gallaecia to the Euro-Region
The defensive coastal forts
The Modern Age was a period of insecurity, where the frequent wars and the
pirate and bandit activities brought hunger and misery to most of the population.
In this sense, the territories of Galicia and the north of Portugal followed a
parallel evolution.
The privileged geographical location of the northwest of the Peninsula was
key to its history, since it has always been considered a strategic place. This
is why it suffered so many attacks and pirate raids during the modern times.
Because of that, a series of coastal defences were built over time.
The naval policy of Felipe II, oriented
to the attack of the English positions,
provoked a British reaction. This was
especially virulent with the Atlantic
coasts, what became evident after the
failure of the Spanish Armada.
“The most important and
planned system of defensive
coastal forts was the one
that defended the different
Galician Rías Altas”
Besides the loss of men and ships, the
Galician and Portuguese ports had
to face the English counter-offensive
against Lisbon. This phenomenon was
especially visible in the Galician case
of the city of A Coruña, which was
already the seat of the Royal Audience,
but whose strategic position within the
country’s instability made the Crown
reconsider its approach.
Until then, the Galician coast had
been a transit and supplying point
for men and goods, but the attacks of
Francis Drake in Vigo in 1586 and in
A Coruña in 1589 made evident the
need to reinforce the defences. This
situation of instability and frequent
attacks brought the proliferation of
different defensive structures all along
the Galician coast, which sought to
guarantee the protection against the
attacks. The most important and
planned system of defensive coastal
forts was the one that defended the
different Galician Rías Altas. In all of
them, two forts were set facing each
other, in both sides of the ría, joined
by a submarine chain which could be
stretched, should they need to close the
transit.
93