FORT JESUS, MOMBASA

FORT JESUS: FORTALEZA DE JESUS DE MOMBACA

Fort Jesus, Mombasa

Located on the edge of a coral ridge looking out over the entrance to the Old Port of Mombasa, Fort Jesus was built by the Portuguese in 1593-1596 to protect their trade route to India and their interests in East Africa.

The Entrance

It was dedicated and named “Fortaleza de Jesus de Mombaca” by the then captain of the Coast. This came after the Portuguese had become masters of the East African Coast for nearly a hundred years with Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer having set foot on Mombasa in 1498. (insert image, old walls inside the fort)

Impressive Architecture by Batista Cairrati

A large Omani Arab expedition reached Mombasa in 1696. Having a garrison of 50-70 Portuguese soldiers and several hundred loyal Coast Arabs, the fort was under siege as from 13^Th March 1696. It was relieved in December by a Portuguese expedition only for all of the garrison to be killed by a plague in the following months.

On 15^Th September 1697, a Portuguese ship arrived with some reinforcement. After another year of Siege the Portuguese garrison was reduced to nine soldiers, the others having died by disease. Taking advantage of the situation, the Omani Arabs attacked and took the fort on the morning of 13^Th December 1698. 

Military Favourable Walls

With the successful conquest of Fort Jesus the whole coast of Kenya and Tanzania with Zanzibar and Pemba, fell into the hands of Omani Arabs. The Portuguese, however retook the fort in 1728, after the African soldiers in the fort revolted against the Omanis shortly before they rebelled against them too.

Passage of the Arches

In 1958 Fort Jesus, Mombasa was declared a historical monument by the colonial government of Kenya. The fort represents a landmark of human spirit of courage and endurance during periods of uncertainty; a representation of not only human achievements but the past upheaval that has come to shape the present societies in the region.

 It is today known as one of the best examples of 16^Th century Portuguese military architecture attributed to an Italian architect Batista Cairrati. In 2011, it was declared a World heritage Site by UNESCO.

Mazrui Hall, Fort Jesus

Fort Jesus, Mombasa improved on the existing fortress design by employing two symmetrical bastions to protect each other and hence provide the strongest continuous cross-fire for the very dangerous inland side. This was combined with a careful selection of the wall height so as not to exceed the range of the guns. The Fort’s forward bastions were bent to command as great an area as possible of the sea. 

It also had a defendable outer wall which also served to hide the interior buildings. Major part of the fort including the foundation was purely cut out of the existing coral rock and forms part of the natural landscape. 

Tranquil Environs

Its universal significance is further demonstrated by, the unsurpassed interest shown by the various powers in its control such as the Portuguese, the Turkish, the Omani Arabs, the Dutch, the British as well as the African (Swahili) and others. Presently, the Fort is a symbol of a common heritage of humanity with Europeans, Asians and Africans claiming a share of its history.

It is one of the best preserved and conserved Portuguese fortresses in Africa and which has had its general design unchanged throughout the various periods of occupation and use.

Statistics by National Museums of Kenya (NMK) on visitation to Fort Jesus Museum over a nine-year period from 2004 to 2013 shows that a total of 1,482,797 people visited. The museum has a holding capacity of 400,000 people per year. If you have never been to the tremendous historical monument, make an effort of visiting the place one of this fine days. 

Breathtaking view of  The Indian Ocean from the Fort