User:Mhatopzz/Fort Victoria (Ambon)

Fort Victoria (Benteng Victoria) is one of the former Portuguese forts located in Sirimau District, the center of Ambon City. Fort Victoria is the oldest fort in Ambon City. Fort Victoria was built by the Portuguese in 1575, but was later taken over by the Dutch. The fort is one of the tourist attractions on Ambon Island and is currently the headquarters of the Pattimura Military Command.

The status of the fort had been listed as one of Indonesia's national cultural heritage sites since 2017 by the Ambon provincial government.

History
During colonial rule, the fort of Kota Laha was taken over by the Dutch from the Portuguese and changed its name to Fort Victoria. Fort Victoria was established by the Portuguese, and taken over by the Dutch. Previously, the Portuguese named the fort Nossa Senhora Annucida, only to be captured by the Dutch in 1605 and named Victoria, which means victory. The fort was severely damaged by a major earthquake that shook Ambon around 1754. After being renovated the fort was renamed Nieuw Victoria which means new victory. The Dutch used the place as the center of government, defense, and the formation of the army. In this fort, Kapitan Pattimura was hanged by the Dutch on December 6, 1817. The fort once saw the Invasion of Ambon by the Indonesian army against the separatist South Moluccan Republic in 1950.

Construction and Architecture
Fort Victoria has rooms with their own functions. Its function is as a place to organize strategies and a place to store foodstuffs. In front of Fort Victoria there is a harbor that was used as a connecting route for ships between islands. Through the harbor, the Dutch could transport spices to be distributed to Europe. The road in front of the fort that is directly related to Honipopu Beach is called Victoria Boulevard. Giant cannons were placed in the fort as well, and in some rooms, there are carved statues made of wood, maps of the enlargement of Ambon City from the 17th to 19th centuries, as well as a collection of paintings of Dutch Administrators in Maluku.