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Castillo de los Tres Reyes Del Morro

The Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro (English: Castle of the Three Kings of Morro), also known as Castillo del Morro (Morro Castle), is a fortress guarding the entrance to the Havana harbor.[b] The design is by the Italian engineer Battista Antonelli (1547–1616). Originally under the control of Spain, the fortress was captured by the British in 1762, returned to Spain under the Treaty of Paris (1763) a year later.[c][8] The Morro Castle was the main defense in the Havana harbor until La Cabaña was completed in 1774.[9]

General information

Havana

Cuba

23°09′01.67″N 82°21′23.99″W / 23.1504639°N 82.3566639°W / 23.1504639; -82.3566639

1589

Load bearing

Masonry

Battista Antonelli

History[edit]

Perched on the promontory on the opposite side of the harbor from Old Havana, it can be seen from miles as it dominates the entrance to the harbor. Built in 1589 in response to raids on the city, el Morro protected the entrance of the harbor with a chain strung out across the water, known as the boom defense to the fort at La Punta. The Morro fortress shares its name with Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca in Santiago de Cuba and the Castillo de San Felipe del Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In this case, the Spanish "morro" means a rock that is visible from the sea and serves as a navigational landmark.[10] The fortress is part of the Old Havana World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1982 for its historical importance in the European conquest of the New World and its unique mix of architecture.[11]

46th Thomas Murray's Regiment of Foot

58th Anstruther's Regiment of Foot

American provincials (3,000 men)

and Danks' Rangers – which were combined into a 253-man ranger corps.

Gorham's

El cañonazo de las 9[edit]

A cannon is fired at 9pm nightly, the "El Cañonazo de las 9" is a leftover custom kept from colonial times signaling the closure of the city gates.

Morro Castle

Morro Castle

British forces under the command of the Earl of Albemarle, and Sr George Pocock, 13 Aug: 1762

British forces under the command of the Earl of Albemarle, and Sr George Pocock, 13 Aug: 1762

Morro castle and La Punta protected the entrance of the harbor with a chain strung out across the water, known as the boom defense. Drawing by Francisco Calvillo, 1576

Morro castle and La Punta protected the entrance of the harbor with a chain strung out across the water, known as the boom defense. Drawing by Francisco Calvillo, 1576

Plano del Castillo del Morro situado á la entrada del Puerto de la Habana

Plano del Castillo del Morro situado á la entrada del Puerto de la Habana

"A new map of North America" following the Treaty of Paris

"A new map of North America" following the Treaty of Paris

Relief shown by shading, oriented with north toward the lower left. Insets: Castle of Morro—Fort of La Punta

Relief shown by shading, oriented with north toward the lower left. Insets: Castle of Morro—Fort of La Punta

Morro Castle and Entrance to Havana Harbor, in 1916, by John Muir, A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf

Morro Castle and Entrance to Havana Harbor, in 1916, by John Muir, A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf

Cubans fishing next to the castle

Cubans fishing next to the castle

Panoramic view of Havana, showing the entrance to the harbor and inner harbor; taken from Cabanas Fortress showing Morro Castle on the extreme right-hand
Malecón

Panoramic view of Havana, showing the entrance to the harbor and inner harbor; taken from Cabanas Fortress showing Morro Castle on the extreme right-hand Malecón

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ISBN

Johnson, Sherry (2011). Climate and Catastrophe in Cuba and the Atlantic World in the Age of Revolution. Univ of North Carolina Press.  9780807869345.

ISBN

José Guiteras, Pedro (1856). Historia de la conquista de la Habana. (1762), Perry and McMillan, Philadelphia.

(Spanish)

La toma de La Habana por los ingleses

Kuethe, Alan (1981). The Development of the Cuban Military As a Sociopolitical Elite, 1763–83. The Hispanic American Historical Review, Vol. 61, No. 4, pp. 695–704

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ISBN

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ISBN

Pocock, Tom (1998). Battle for Empire: The very first world war 1756–63. Michael O'Mara Books Ltd.  1-85479-332-2.

ISBN

Rodger, N. A. M. (1986). The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy. Fontana Press.  0-006-86152-0.

ISBN

Schneider, Elena A (2018). The Occupation of Havana: War, Trade, and Slavery in the Atlantic World. UNC Press Books.  9781469645360.

ISBN

Syrett, David, (1970) The Siege and Capture of Havana, 1762 Navy Records Society. 978-0-85354-003-8

ISBN

Thomas, Hugh, (2013). Cuba: A History. Penguin. 978-0-71819-292-1

ISBN

Media related to Morro Castle at Wikimedia Commons