A Famosa
| A Famosa | |
|---|---|
Kota A Famosa (in Malay) | |
| Malacca, Malaysia | |
The surviving gate of the Portuguese fort in Malacca. | |
A view of the gate of the fort from the rear. | |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Portugal (1512–1641) Netherlands (1641–1795) Britain (1795–1807) |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | Largely destroyed except for a few remaining structures |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 2°11′29.82″N 102°15′1.10″E / 2.1916167°N 102.2503056°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | ca. 1512 |
| Built by | Portuguese Empire |
| In use | 1512–1807 |
| Demolished | 10 August 1807 (except for a small gate house) |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders | Afonso de Albuquerque |
A Famosa (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐ faˈmɔzɐ]) was a Portuguese fortress built in Malacca, Malaysia, circa 1512. The oldest part of the fortress was a five-storey keep which eventually gave its name to the fortress as a whole. Some time following the Battle of Malacca (1641) and the occupation of the city by the Dutch, the keep was destroyed but the outer walls of the fortress were expanded. However, in 1811 the British destroyed all of the original fortress and most of the outer walls. The Porta de Santiago gateway, and the rebuilt Middelburg Bastion, are the only parts of the fortress that remain today.