A presidio (''jail, fortification'') was a fortified base established by the

Spanish Empire The Spanish Empire, sometimes referred to as the Hispanic Monarchy (political entity), Hispanic Monarchy or the Catholic Monarchy, was a colonial empire that existed between 1492 and 1976. In conjunction with the Portuguese Empire, it ushered ...

mainly between the 16th and 18th centuries in areas under their control or influence. The term is derived from the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

word ''praesidium'' meaning ''protection'' or ''defense''. In the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

and the

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

, the presidios were outposts of the Christian defense against Islamic raids. In the Americas, the

fortresses A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from La ...

were built to protect against raids by

pirate Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and valuable goods, or taking hostages. Those who conduct acts of piracy are call ...

s, rival colonial powers, and Native Americans. Later in western North America, with independence, the Mexicans garrisoned the Spanish presidios on the northern frontier and followed the same pattern in unsettled frontier regions such as the Presidio de Sonoma in

Sonoma, California Sonoma () is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Sonoma is one of the principal cities of California's Wine Country and the center of the Sonoma Valley AVA. Sonoma' ...

, and the Presidio de Calabasas in

Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...

. In western North America, a ''rancho del rey'' or ''kings ranch'' would be established a short distance outside a presidio. This was a tract of land assigned to the presidio to furnish pasturage to the horses and other beasts of burden of the garrison. Mexico called this facility "rancho nacional". Presidios were only accessible to Spanish military and soldiers.

Canada

Fort San Miguel Fort San Miguel was a Spanish fortification at Yuquot (formerly Friendly Cove) on Nootka Island, just west of north-central Vancouver Island. It protected the Spanish settlement, called Santa Cruz de Nuca, the first colony in British Columbia ...

Chile

Italy

Several fortresses formerly held by the

Republic of Siena The Republic of Siena (, ) was a historic state consisting of the city of Siena and its surrounding territory in Tuscany, Central Italy. It existed for over 400 years, from 1125 to 1555. During its existence, it gradually expanded throughout south ...

were acquired by Spain following the latter's demise, by treaty between

Philip II of Spain Philip II (21 May 152713 September 1598), sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and List of Sicilian monarchs, Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598. He ...

and

Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo I de' Medici (12 June 1519 – 21 April 1574) was the second and last duke of Florence from 1537 until 1569, when he became the first grand duke of Tuscany, a title he held until his death. Cosimo I succeeded his cousin to the duchy. ...

on 3 July 1557, to form what became known as the ''Estado de los Presidios''. They were held by Spain until the

War of the Spanish Succession The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict fought between 1701 and 1714. The immediate cause was the death of the childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700, which led to a struggle for control of the Spanish E ...

, when they came under Austrian ownership, and were administered from

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

. *

Porto Ercole Porto Ercole () is an Italian town located in the municipality of Monte Argentario, in the Province of Grosseto, Tuscany. It is one of the two major towns that form the township, along with Porto Santo Stefano. Its name means "Port Hercules". It i ...

* Porto Santo Stefano *

Orbetello Orbetello is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Grosseto (Tuscany), Italy. It is located about south of Grosseto, on the Lagoon of Orbetello, which is home to an important Natural Reserve. History Orbetello was an ancient Etruscan set ...

Talamone Talamone (, ) is a town in Tuscany, on the west coast of central Italy, administratively a frazione of the comune of Orbetello, province of Grosseto, in the Tuscan Maremma. Talamone is easily reached from Via Aurelia, and is about from Grosseto ...

Ansedonia Ansedonia is a ''frazione'' of the ''comune'' of Orbetello, in the province of Grosseto, southern Tuscany (Italy). At the time of the 2001 census, its population was 88.Giannutri Giannutri () is a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Tuscany, Italy; it is the southernmost island of the Tuscan Archipelago and it is a ''frazione'' of the ''comune'' of Isola del Giglio in the Province of Grosseto. Geography G ...

Porto Azzurro Porto Azzurro is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Livorno in the Italian region Tuscany; it is on the island of Elba, located about southwest of Florence and about south of Livorno. It was formerly called Porto Longone, and in 15 ...

File:Porto Ercole - Vista fortezza dalla rocca.JPG, Forte Filippo (Philip II Fortress),

File:Forte Stella Porto Ercole (GR).jpg, Forte Stella,

File:Palazzo dei Governanti Porto Ercole (GR).jpg, Governors Palace,

Mexico

Few presidios were established in the present-day desert frontier regions in northern Mexico to control and confine the existing rebellious indigenous tribes. Captured indigenous warriors were confined and enslaved at the presidio. Presidios was used to protect the colonial silver ship from rebellious raids from Indians in

Camino Real de Tierra Adentro El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (), also known as the Silver Route, was a Viceroyalty of New Spain, Spanish road between Mexico City and San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico, San Juan Pueblo (''Ohkay Owingeh''), New Mexico (in the modern U.S.), that wa ...

, mainly in

Zacatecas Zacatecas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Zacatecas, is one of the Political divisions of Mexico, 31 states of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Zacatecas, 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas City, Zacatec ...

and

Guanajuato Guanajuato, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Guanajuato, is one of the 32 states that make up the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Guanajuato, 46 municipalities and its cap ...

, starting new settlements.

Aguascalientes

* The Presidio de las Bocas and later Presidio de las Bocas de Gallardo, founded in 1570 in

Asientos Asientos is a municipality in the Mexican state of Aguascalientes. It stands at . The town of Real de Asientos serves as its municipal seat. Real de Asientos was declared a '' Pueblo Mágico'' by the Mexican Secretariat of Tourism (SECTUR) in ...

. Today reconverted into the hacienda de Santa María de Gallardo. * The Presidio de Ciénega Grande, founded in 1570 in

. Today reconverted into the hacienda Ciénega Grande.

Baja California Sur

* The Real Presidio de Loreto, founded in 1697 in

Loreto, Baja California Sur Loreto is a city and municipal seat of Loreto Municipality, Baja California Sur, on the West Coast of Mexico. Located on the Gulf of California, the city had a population of 16,311 inhabitants in 2020. Loreto is a regional economic and cultura ...

* The Presidio San José del Cabo, founded in 1735 in

San José del Cabo San José del Cabo (, ''Saint Joseph of the Cape'') is a coastal city located on the Gulf of California coast, near the southern tip of Baja California Sur (state), México. San José del Cabo is situated on the edge of a shallow bay, some northea ...

Chihuahua

* The Presidio de El Paso del Río Grande del Norte (1683–1773), at Ciudad Juárez, across the river from

El Paso, Texas El Paso (; ; or ) is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States. The 2020 United States census, 2020 population of the city from the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the List of ...

. Later relocated south in 1773 to Carrizal. * The Presidio de San Felipe y Santiago de Janos (1691–?), in Janos. * The Presidio de Casas Grandes (1686), was relocated to Janos in 1691. * The Presidio de San Francisco de Conchos, founded in 1685 in San Francisco de Conchos. * The Presidio de San Bartolomé (?–1710), located 20 km east of Parral. Replaced by flying squadron operating from the Post of Valle de San Bartolomé (1710–?). * The Presidio de San Carlos de Cerro Gordo, founded in 1772 in Manuel Benavides. * The Presidio de Nuestra Señora de las Caldas de Guajoquilla, founded in 1752 in Jiménez * The Presidio de San Fernando de Carrizal (1758–?)

Coahuila

* The Presidio del Santísimo Sacramento del Valle de Santa Rosa, founded in 1780 in Santa Rosa de Múzquiz * The Presidio San Juan Bautista del Río Grande, founded around 1703 in San Juan Bautista, now the present-day Guerrero, Coahuila * The Presidio San Antonio Bucareli de la Babia, founded in 1774 in Cuatro Ciénegas

Durango

* The Presidio de Santa Catalina de Tepehuanes (1620–1690s?), in Santa Catarina de Tepehuanes. * The Presidio Concepción del Pasaje de Cuencamé (1685), on Rio Nazas northwest of Cuencamé. * The Presidio de San Pedro del Gallo (1683s), in San Pedro del Gallo. * The Presidio de Santiago de Mapimí (1715), in Mapimí. * The Presidio de San Miguel de Cerrogordo (1648–1767) in Villa Hidalgo.

Guanajuato

* The Presidio de San Miguel el Grande, founded in 1542 in

San Miguel de Allende San Miguel de Allende () is the principal city in the Municipalities of Mexico, municipality of San Miguel de Allende (municipality), San Miguel de Allende, located in the far eastern part of Guanajuato, Mexico. A part of the Bajío region, the t ...

. * The Presidio de León, founded in 1576 in León. * The Presidio de Santa Fe de Guanaxuato, founded in 1576 in

. * The Presidio de la Purisíma Concepción de Zalaya, founded in 1570 in

Celaya Celaya (; Otomi: ) is a city and its surrounding municipality in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, located in the southeast quadrant of the state. It is the third most populous city in the state, with a 2005 census population of 310,413. The muni ...

. * The Presidio de León, founded in 1576 in León. * The Hacienda San Cristóbal, founded in 1614 in San Cristóbal by the Viceroy Diego Fernández de Córdoba, now the present-day

León, Guanajuato León (), officially León de Los Aldama, is the most populous city and municipal seat of the municipality of León in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. In the 2020 census, INEGI reported 1,579,803 people living in the city of León and 1,721,21 ...

Hidalgo

* The Presidio de San Francisco, founded in 1522 in Zimapán Fuerte de Ojuelos3

Jalisco

* The Presidio Jamay, founded in 1529. * The Presidio Ojuelos, founded in 1570, which developed into the city of Ojuelos. * The Presidio de Santa María de los Lagos, founded in 1563 in

Lagos de Moreno Lagos de Moreno () is a city and municipality in the State of Jalisco, Mexico. Lagos is located in the region of Los Altos de Jalisco, within the macroregion of the Bajío, one of the most highly developed areas in Latin America. Lagos de Moreno ...

. * El Fuerte de la Isla, founded in 1817 in . Isla de Mezcala 11

Nuevo León

* The Presidio San Gregorio de Cerralvo, founded in 1626 in Cerralvo.

Querétaro

* The Presidio de San Juan Bautista del Río, founded in 1531 in

San Juan del Río San Juan del Río is a city (2010 census pop. 241,699) and administration of the surrounding San Juan del Río Municipality (pop. 308,462) in the central Mexican state of Querétaro. The population within the municipality is 268,408 as of 2015 ...

* The Presidio Maxcala, founded in 1566 by the

Otomi The Otomi (; ) are an Indigenous people of Mexico inhabiting the central Mexican Plateau (Altiplano) region. The Otomi are an Indigenous people of the Americas who inhabit a discontinuous territory in central Mexico. They are linguistically rel ...

with Spanish Royal Writ to protect the in Pedro Escobedo * The Presidio Jalpan, founded in 1751 in Jalpan de Serra

San Luis Potosí

* The Presidio de Santiago de Los Valles de Oxitipa, founded in 1533 in

Ciudad Valles Ciudad Valles is the second-largest city in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí. It is located in the eastern part of the state (), in the cultural region of Huasteca. The city is also the municipal seat of the surrounding municipality of the s ...

Sonora

Antiguo Palacio Municipal Villa de Seris-1

* The Presidio de San Pedro de la Conquista, founded in 1726 in

Hermosillo Hermosillo (), formerly called Pitic (as in ''Santísima Trinidad del Pitic'' and ''Presidio del Pitic''), is a city in the center of the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. It is the municipal seat of the Hermosillo municipality, the state's ...

. Today the former Hermosillo Townhall museum. * The Presidio Santa Gertrudis del Altar, founded in 1755 in Altar, Sonora * The Presidio de Santa Rosa de Corodéguachi, founded in 1692, near the

Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...

border and later moved to Fronteras, Sonora * The Presidio San Miguel de Horcasitas, founded in 1749

Zacatecas

* The Presidio Tlaltenango, founded in 1530 in Tlaltenango. * The Presidio Xuchipilan, founded in 1530 in Juchipila. * The Presidio de Espíritu Santo de Guadalajara (1532–1533) near the present-day Nochistlán, destroyed by the Tlaltenango Caxcan in 1533. Fresnillo - Palacio municipal

* The Presidio de Fresnillo, founded in 1554 in

Fresnillo Fresnillo () is a city in north central Mexico, founded in 1554 by Francisco de Ibarra. It is the second largest city in Zacatecas state and the seat of Fresnillo municipality. As a rail and highway junction, Fresnillo is the center of a rich ...

. * The Presidio de Jerez de la Frontera, founded in 1570 in Jerez de García Salinas. * The Presidio Palmillas (1570–?), near the present-day Ojocaliente. * The Presidio Malpaso, founded reconverting an ''estancia'' in 1580 in Villanueva. Today the former hacienda de Malpaso. * The Presidio de San Pedro de Chalchihuites, founded in 1591 in Chalchihuites. * The Presidio de Sacramento y Real de Minas de Ojocaliente de Bastidas, founded in 1620 in Ojocaliente.

North Africa

After the

Granada War The Granada War was a series of military campaigns between 1482 and 1492 during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, against the Nasrid dynasty's Emirate of Granada. It ended with the defeat o ...

and the completion of the Spanish ''

Reconquista The ''Reconquista'' (Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese for ) or the fall of al-Andalus was a series of military and cultural campaigns that European Christian Reconquista#Northern Christian realms, kingdoms waged ag ...

'', the

Catholic Monarchs The Catholic Monarchs were Isabella I of Castile, Queen Isabella I of Crown of Castile, Castile () and Ferdinand II of Aragon, King Ferdinand II of Crown of Aragón, Aragon (), whose marriage and joint rule marked the ''de facto'' unification of ...

took their fight across the

Strait of Gibraltar The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Europe from Africa. The two continents are separated by 7.7 nautical miles (14.2 kilometers, 8.9 miles) at its narrowest point. Fe ...

, as the Portuguese had done several generations earlier with the conquest of

Ceuta Ceuta (, , ; ) is an Autonomous communities of Spain#Autonomous cities, autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast. Bordered by Morocco, it lies along the boundary between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta is one of th ...

in 1415. The establishment of Spanish military outposts on the North African coast echoed earlier endeavors by the

Kingdom of Sicily The Kingdom of Sicily (; ; ) was a state that existed in Sicily and the southern Italian peninsula, Italian Peninsula as well as, for a time, in Kingdom of Africa, Northern Africa, from its founding by Roger II of Sicily in 1130 until 1816. It was ...

in the 12th century (and again in

Djerba Djerba (; , ; ), also transliterated as Jerba or Jarbah, is a Tunisian island and the largest island of North Africa at , in the Gulf of Gabès, off the coast of Tunisia. Administratively, it is part of Medenine Governorate. The island h ...

under

Frederick III of Sicily Frederick III (also Frederick II, ', ', '); 13 December 1272 – 25 June 1337) was the regent of the Kingdom of Sicily from 1291 until 1295 and subsequently King of Sicily from 1295 until his death. He was the third son of Peter III of Ara ...

) and the

Kingdom of France The Kingdom of France is the historiographical name or umbrella term given to various political entities of France in the Middle Ages, medieval and Early modern France, early modern period. It was one of the most powerful states in Europe from th ...

in the 13th century (

Eighth Crusade The Eighth Crusade was the second Crusade launched by Louis IX of France, this one against the Hafsid dynasty in Tunisia in 1270. It is also known as the Crusade of Louis IX Against Tunis or the Second Crusade of Louis. The Crusade did not see an ...

of 1270). During the period of

Iberian Union The Iberian Union is a historiographical term used to describe the period in which the Habsburg Spain, Monarchy of Spain under Habsburg dynasty, until then the personal union of the crowns of Crown of Castile, Castile and Crown of Aragon, Aragon ...

between 1580 and 1640, the Spanish Crown gained Ceuta and the Portuguese outposts on the Atlantic Coast, such as

Tangier Tangier ( ; , , ) is a city in northwestern Morocco, on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The city is the capital city, capital of the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, as well as the Tangier-Assilah Prefecture of Moroc ...

, Mazagão/El Jadida and

Casablanca Casablanca (, ) is the largest city in Morocco and the country's economic and business centre. Located on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of the Chaouia (Morocco), Chaouia plain in the central-western part of Morocco, the city has a populatio ...

; but of these, it only retained Ceuta by the

Treaty of Lisbon (1668) The Treaty of Lisbon of 1668 was a peace treaty between Portugal and Spain that was concluded at Lisbon on 13 February 1668 with the mediation of England in which Spain recognised the sovereignty of Portugal's new ruling dynasty, the House of Bra ...

. The Spanish North African ''presidios'' are listed here in geographical sequence, from West to East, and including neither Spain's Atlantic settlements in the Moroccan far South (e.g.

Santa Cruz de la Mar Pequeña Santa Cruz de la Mar Pequeña (literally ''Holy Cross of the Little Sea'') was a 15th century Spanish settlement close to Akhfennir, in the Tarfaya Province, in Morocco. History Founded by the Canary Islands lord Diego de Herrera in 1478 as ...

) nor outposts gained after 1830 (e.g. the

Chafarinas Islands The Chafarinas Islands ( , or , or ), also spelled Zafarin, Djaferin or Zafarani, are a group of three small islets located in the Alboran Sea off the coast of Morocco with an aggregate area of , to the east of Nador and off the Moroccan to ...

). * Mehdya, Morocco (''La Mamora'' or ''San Miguel de Ultramar''), 1614–1681 *

Larache Larache () is a city in northwestern Morocco. It is on the Moroccan coast, where the Loukkos River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Larache is one of the most important cities of the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region. Many civilisations and cultures have ...

, 1610–1689 *

, acquired from Portugal in 1668 *

Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera () also known as Hajar Badis () is a Spanish exclave and rocky tidal island in the western Mediterranean Sea connected to the Moroccan shore by a sandy isthmus. It is also connected to a smaller islet to the east, La Isleta, by a rocky isthm ...

, 1508–1522 and since 1564 * Alhucemas Islands, since 1559 *

Cazaza Cazaza was a Plazas de soberanía, Spanish enclave on the western coast of Cape Three Forks, in what is today Morocco, around 18 km from Melilla. It was here that the exiled Muhammad XII of Granada, Boabdil, last Nasrid dynasty, Emir of Granad ...

, 1505–1533 *

Melilla Melilla (, ; ) is an autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast. It lies on the eastern side of the Cape Three Forks, bordering Morocco and facing the Mediterranean Sea. It has an area of . It was part of the Province of Málaga un ...

, since 1497 * Honaine, briefly in 1534 *

Mers El Kébir Mers El Kébir ( ) is a port on the Mediterranean Sea, near Oran in Oran Province, northwest Algeria. It is famous for the attack on the French fleet in 1940, in the Second World War. History Originally a Phoenician port, it was called ''Port ...

(''Mazalquivir''), 1505–1708 and 1732–1792 *

Oran Oran () is a major coastal city located in the northwest of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria, after the capital, Algiers, because of its population and commercial, industrial and cultural importance. It is w ...

, 1509–1708 and 1732–1792 *

Algiers Algiers is the capital city of Algeria as well as the capital of the Algiers Province; it extends over many Communes of Algeria, communes without having its own separate governing body. With 2,988,145 residents in 2008Census 14 April 2008: Offi ...

(''Argel''), 1510–1516; Peñón islet until 1529 *

Béjaïa Béjaïa ( ; , , ), formerly known as Bougie and Bugia, is a Mediterranean seaport, port city and communes of Algeria, commune on the Gulf of Béjaïa in Algeria; it is the capital of Béjaïa Province. Geography Location Béjaïa owes its ...

(''Bugia''), 1510–1555 *

Annaba Annaba (), formerly known as Bon, Bona and Bône, is a seaport city in the northeastern corner of Algeria, close to the border with Tunisia. Annaba is near the small Seybouse River and is in the Annaba Province. With a population of about 263,65 ...

(''Bona''), 1535–1540 *

Bizerte Bizerte (, ) is the capital and largest city of Bizerte Governorate in northern Tunisia. It is the List of northernmost items, northernmost city in Africa, located north of the capital Tunis. It is also known as the last town to remain under Fr ...

(''Bizerta''), 1535–1574 *

La Goulette La Goulette (, ), in Arabic Halq al-Wadi ( '), is a municipality and the port of Tunis, Tunisia. La Goulette is located at around on a sandbar between Lake of Tunis, Lake Tūnis and the Gulf of Tunis. The port, located 12km east of Tunis, is th ...

(''La Goleta''), 1535–1574 *

Tunis Tunis (, ') is the capital city, capital and largest city of Tunisia. The greater metropolitan area of Tunis, often referred to as "Grand Tunis", has about 2,700,000 inhabitants. , it is the third-largest city in the Maghreb region (after Casabl ...

(''Túnez''), 1573–1574 (protectorate from 1535 to 1569) *

Sousse Sousse, Sūsah , or Soussa (, ), is a city in Tunisia, capital of the Sousse Governorate. Located south of the capital Tunis, the city has 271,428 inhabitants (2014). Sousse is in the central-east of the country, on the Gulf of Hammamet, which ...

(''Susa''), 1537–1574 * Monastir, 1550–1554 *

Mahdia Mahdia ( ') is a Tunisian coastal city with 76,513 inhabitants, south of Monastir, Tunisia, Monastir and southeast of Sousse. Mahdia is a provincial centre north of Sfax. It is important for the associated fish-processing industry, as well as w ...

(''Mahdía''), 1550–1553 *

(''Yerba''), 1521–1523 and 1551–1560 * Tripoli (''Trípoli''), 1510–1530 then granted to the

Knights Hospitaller The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), is a Catholic military order. It was founded in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in the 12th century and had headquarters there ...

who held it until 1551 File:Velez de la Gomera.jpg, Vélez de la Gomera File:Melilla un día de regatas.jpg,

File:Spanish fortress mers El kebir.jpg,

File:Bordj Moussa.jpeg, Spanish fort (''Bordj Moussa'') in

File:LA GOULETTE 1.JPG,

File:Chikly avec le Djebel Zaghouan en arrière-plan.jpg, Spanish fort of

Chikly Chikly () is a small island located in the northern part of Lake of Tunis which houses Fort Santiago Chikly, a former Roman citadel which was reconstructed by the Spanish Governor of Goletta, Luys Peres Varga, between 1546 and 1550. The fort ...

Island on the

Lake of Tunis The Lake of Tunis ( ''Buḥayra Tūnis''; ) is a natural lagoon located between the Tunisian capital city of Tunis and the Gulf of Tunis (Mediterranean Sea). The lake covers a total of 37 square kilometres, in contrast to its size its depth ...

File:Tripoli castle2.jpg, Red Castle of Tripoli

Philippines

Luzon

*The Presidio de Santiago, founded in 1593 in

Intramuros Intramuros () is the historic walled area within the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. It is administered by the Intramuros Administration with the help of the city government of Manila. Intramuros comprises a centuries-old hist ...

, Manila *The Presidio de San Felipe (Cavite), founded in 1609 in San Roque,

Cavite Cavite, officially the Province of Cavite (; Chavacano: ''Provincia de Cavite''), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region. On the southern shores of Manila Bay and southwest of Manila, i ...

Mindanao

*The Presidio de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza, founded in 1635 in Zamboanga

Visayas

*The Presidio de Lawis in

Madridejos, Cebu Madridejos, officially the Municipality of Madridejos (; ), is a municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 42,039 people. There is a light station – LS Madridejos – about north ...

, the current structure is the oldest in the country laid down around 1628–1630 *The Presidio (Fort) de San Pedro (Iloilo), founded in 1616 in

Iloilo City Iloilo City, officially the City of Iloilo (; ; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Western Visayas Regions of the Philippines, region of the Philippines, located on the southeastern coast of th ...

*The Presidio de San Pedro (Cebu), founded in 1630 in

Cebu Cebu ( ; ), officially the Province of Cebu (; ), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. The coastal zone of Cebu is identified as a ...

United States

Arizona

* The Presidio San Ignacio de Tubac, founded in 1752 in

Tubac Tubac is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,191 at the 2010 census. The place name "Tubac" is an English borrowing from a Hispanicized form of the O'odham name ''Cuwak'', which ...

* The Presidio San Augustin del Tucson, founded in 1775 in

Tucson Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...

* The

Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate The Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate is a former Spanish military presidio, or fortress, located roughly west of the town of Tombstone, Arizona, in the United States of America. History The Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate was established on ...

, founded in 1775 near the present-day

Tombstone A gravestone or tombstone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. A marker set at the head of the grave may be called a headstone. An especially old or elaborate stone slab may be called a funeral stele, stela, or slab. The us ...

* The Presidio de Calabasas, founded in 1837 near the present-day Tumacacori * The

Presidio de San Bernardino The Presidio de San Bernardino, or Camp San Berdardino Springs was originally the site of a Spanish fortress built in 1776 and abandoned in 1780. It was located a few miles east of present-day Douglas, Arizona (Gerald 1968). In 1883, a temporary ...

, founded in 1776 near the present-day

Douglas Douglas may refer to: People * Douglas (given name) * Douglas (surname) Animals * Douglas (parrot), macaw that starred as the parrot ''Rosalinda'' in Pippi Longstocking * Douglas the camel, a camel in the Confederate Army in the American Civil ...

(Gerald 1968) * The Presidio San Felipe de Gracia Real de Terrenate

California

* The Presidio Real de San Carlos de Monterey, founded in 1770. Its rancho del rey was what became Rancho Nacional. It is currently housing the

Defense Language Institute The Defense Language Institute (DLI) is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) educational and research institution consisting of two separate entities which provide linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other f ...

, in

Monterey Monterey ( ; ) is a city situated on the southern edge of Monterey Bay, on the Central Coast of California. Located in Monterey County, the city occupies a land area of and recorded a population of 30,218 in the 2020 census. The city was fou ...

* The Presidio Real de San Diego, founded in 1769 in San Diego, its rancho del rey was what became

Rancho de la Nación Rancho de la Nación was a Mexican land grant in present-day southern San Diego County, California, given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to John (Don Juan) Forster. The grant encompassed present-day National City, Chula Vista, Bonita, Sunny ...

. * The Presidio Real de San Francisco, founded in 1776 and now part of the

Golden Gate National Recreation Area The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is a U.S. National Recreation Area protecting of ecologically and historically significant landscapes surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area. Much of the park is land formerly used by the Unite ...

in San Francisco. Its rancho del rey was what became Rancho Buri Buri. * The Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, founded in 1782 in Santa Barbara. Its rancho del rey was what became

Rancho San Julian Rancho San Julian was a Mexican land grant and present-day ranch in present-day Santa Barbara County, California given in 1837 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to José de la Guerra y Noriega. The grant name probably refers to José Antonio Julian ...

. * The Presidio de Sonoma, founded by Mexico in 1836 in Sonoma. Its rancho nacional was what became Rancho Suscol. File:Presido chapel1.jpg, Interior of the reconstructed chapel of the Santa Barbara Presidio File:Presidio of San Diego 1820 map.jpg,

Presidio of San Diego El Presidio Real de San Diego (Royal Presidio of San Diego) is a historic fort in San Diego, California. It was established on May 14, 1769, by Gaspar de Portolá, leader of the first European land exploration of Alta California—at that time a ...

, California

Florida

Source:

* The Presidio San Augustin, founded in 1565, which developed into the city of St. Augustine, ceded to

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

in 1763, regained 20 years later, and transferred to the United States in 1821 * The Presidio San Mateo, founded in 1565 on the ruins of

Fort Caroline Fort Caroline was an attempted French colonial settlement in Florida, located on the banks of the St. Johns River in present-day Duval County. It was established under the leadership of René Goulaine de Laudonnière on 22 June 1564, follow ...

near today's

Jacksonville Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...

, recaptured and destroyed by the French in 1568 * The Presidio Ais, founded in 1565 on the

Indian River Lagoon The Indian River Lagoon is a grouping of three lagoons: the Mosquito Lagoon, the Banana River, and the Indian River, on the Atlantic Coast of Florida; one of the most biodiverse estuaries in the Northern Hemisphere and is home to more than 4, ...

, abandoned after one month * The Presidio Santa Lucia, founded in 1565 near

Cape Canaveral Cape Canaveral () is a cape (geography), cape in Brevard County, Florida, in the United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast. Officially Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated ...

, abandoned four months later * The Presidio San Antonio de Padua, founded in 1566 at Calos, capital of the

Calusa The Calusa ( , Calusa: *ka(ra)luś(i)) were a Native American people of Florida's southwest coast. Calusa society developed from that of archaic peoples of the Everglades region. Previous Indigenous cultures had lived in the area for thousands o ...

, abandoned in 1569 * The Presidio

Tocobaga Tocobaga (occasionally Tocopaca) was the name of a chiefdom of Native Americans, its chief, and its principal town during the 16th century. The chiefdom was centered around the northern end of Old Tampa Bay, the arm of Tampa Bay that extends betw ...

, founded in 1567 on

Tampa Bay Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and shallow estuary connected to the Gulf of Mexico on the west-central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, McKay Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay. The largest freshwater i ...

, destroyed by the Tocobagas within ten months * The Presidio

Tequesta The Tequesta, also Tekesta, Tegesta, Chequesta, Vizcaynos, were a Native American tribe on the Southeastern Atlantic coast of Florida. They had infrequent contact with Europeans and had largely migrated by the middle of the 18th century. Loca ...

, founded in 1567 on the site of what is now Miami, abandoned in 1568 1699 plan of wooden Presidio Santa Maria de Galve#Fort San Carlos de Austria, Fort San Carlos de Austria at Presidio Santa Maria de Galve * The

Presidio Santa Maria de Galve The Presidio Santa María de Galve, founded in 1698 by Spanish colonists, was the first European settlement of Pensacola, Florida after that of Tristan de Luna in 1559–1561. It was in the area of Fort Barrancas at modern-day Naval Air Statio ...

, founded in 1696, near

Fort Barrancas Fort Barrancas (1839) or Fort San Carlos de Barrancas (from 1787) is a United States military fort and National Historic Landmark in the former Warrington area of Pensacola, Florida, located physically within Naval Air Station Pensacola, which ...

at present-day

Naval Air Station Pensacola Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola (formerly NAS/KNAS until changed circa 1970 to allow Nassau International Airport, now Lynden Pindling International Airport, to have IATA code NAS), "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United Sta ...

; captured by French in 1719, Spanish relocated to Presidio Bahía San José de Nueva Asturias (see below) * The Presidio Bahía San José de Valladares, founded in 1701 on St. Joseph Bay, captured by French in 1718 * The Presidio San Marcos de Apalachee, founded in 1718 at the existing port of San Marcos, which developed into the town of St. Marks, ceded to Great Britain in 1763, regained 20 years later, and transferred to the United States in 1821 * The Presidio Bahía San José de Nueva Asturias, founded in 1719 on St. Joseph Point, abandoned when Spanish regained Pensacola Bay area from French in 1722, Spanish relocated to Presidio Isla Santa Rosa Punta de Siguenza (see below) * The Presidio Isla Santa Rosa Punta de Siguenza, founded in 1722 on Santa Rosa Island, destroyed by a hurricane in 1755, Spanish relocated to Presidio San Miguel de Panzacola (see below) * The Presidio San Miguel de Panzacola, founded in 1755, which developed into the city of

Pensacola Pensacola ( ) is a city in the Florida panhandle in the United States. It is the county seat and only city in Escambia County. The population was 54,312 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Pensacola metropolitan area, which ha ...

, ceded to Great Britain in 1763, regained 20 years later, and transferred to the United States in 1821

Georgia

Source: * The Presidio

Guale Guale was a historic Native American chiefdom of Mississippian culture peoples located along the coast of present-day Georgia and the Sea Islands. Spanish Florida established its Roman Catholic missionary system in the chiefdom in the late 16th ...

, founded in 1566, abandoned three months later * The Presidio San Pedro de Tacatacuru, founded in 1569 on

Cumberland Island Cumberland Island, in the southeastern United States, is the largest of the Sea Islands of Georgia. The long-staple Sea Island cotton was first grown here by a local family, the Millers, who helped Eli Whitney develop the cotton gin. With its ...

, abandoned in 1573

Louisiana

*The Presidio Nuestra Señora del Pilar de los Adaes, founded in 1721 near the present-day

Robeline Robeline is a village (Louisiana), village in western Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 183 at the 2000 United States Census, 2000 census. It is part of the Natchitoches, Louisiana, Natchitoches Micropolitan Statis ...

New Mexico

* The Presidio Santa Cruz de la Cañada, in Santa Cruz

South Carolina

* The Presidio Santa Elena, founded in 1566 on Parris Island, destroyed by Native Americans in 1576, re-established in 1577, abandoned in 1587

Texas

* The Presidio Fuerte de Santa Cruz del Cibolo, founded in 1734 and re-established in 1771 near Cestohowa, Texas in Karnes County, Texas, (between San Antonio and Goliad). * The Presidio San Antonio de Béxar, founded in 1718 in

San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...

* The Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto, founded in 1721, near Lavaca Bay, now in

Goliad Goliad ( ) is a city and the county seat of Goliad County, Texas, United States. It is known for the 1836 Goliad massacre during the Texas Revolution. It had a population of 1,620 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Victoria, Texas, Metrop ...

* The Presidio San Luis de las Amarillas San Saba, founded in 1772 near the present-day Menard * The Presidio de la Junta de los Ríos Norte y Conchos, founded in 1760 just southwest of present-day

Presidio A presidio (''jail, fortification'') was a fortified base established by the Spanish Empire mainly between the 16th and 18th centuries in areas under their control or influence. The term is derived from the Latin word ''praesidium'' meaning ''pr ...

Notes

References and further reading

* Gerald, Rex E. (1968). ''Spanish Presidios of the Late Eighteenth Century in Northern New Spain''. Santa Fe, NM: Museum of New Mexico Press. * Javellana, Rene, S. J. ''Fortress of Empire''. Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1997. * Moorhead, Max L. ''The Presidio: Bastion of the Spanish Borderlands''. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1975. * Williams, J. S. "Appendix: Presidios of Northern New Spain". ''Historical Archaeology'' 38, 2004. {{Fortifications Architecture in Spain Spanish forts in the United States Spanish colonial fortifications in Mexico