Fort

Camocim, fort

Dutch ships visited Camocim in the beginning of the 17th century when the French maintained relations with the indigenous people living in the Serra de Ibiapaba (Hulsman 2008: 4). The Portuguese erected a small fortification during the campaign against the French in Maranhão. The Dutch drive in 1637 also expelled the Portuguese from Camocim and Barretto claims that a small Dutch fortification was in place during the period 1637-1644 (Barretto 2010: 56-57). Further archival research in Dutch archives is necessary to confirm this, though there are references in Dutch archives to a Dutch fortification in Camocim after 1649 (Wiesebron 2008: 522). There is no indication of the location of this object and there are no details on its construction or garrison.