see fort Jesus pictures here...

        anchor outside fort Jesus

Historical Timeline
1498 - Portuguese reach Mombasa, but sail on to Malindi.

1589 - Turks build a small fort at Mombasa.

1593 - Portuguese pull out of Malindi, begin to build Fort Jesus.

1631 - Sultan of Mombasa stabs Portuguese captain, takes over fort.

1632 - Unsuccessful attempts by Portuguese to retake fort; Sultan's nerve fails; he quits Portuguese reoccupation.

1661 - Sultan of Oman sacks Mombasa, but fears to attack fort.

1696 - Sultan of Oman lays siege to fort.

1697 - Portuguese in fort dying from starvation and plague.

1698 - Fort falls to Omani Arabs after two & three quarter years siege.

1728 - Garrison mutinies against Arabs; Portuguese reoccupy.

1729 - Omani Arabs retake fort; Portuguese leave for good.

1741 - Omani governor of fort, al-Mazuri, declares independence.

1746 - Al-Mazuri murdered by Omanis, his brother kill assassins, becomes governor

1824 - Al-Mazuri governor seeks and gets British protection.

1826 - British protection withdrawn.

1828 - Sultan of Oman & Zanzibar (Sayid Said) regains fort.

1829 - Al-Mazuri forces starve out Sultans garrison.

1833 - Al-Mazuri forces in fort withstand bombardment by Sultan.

1837 - The last al-Mazuri governor submits to Sultan.
 

Today Fort Jesus is a popular destination for foreign and local tourists, researchers, and students. It receives hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, who come to see not only the impressive fort, but the small exhibit gallery which holds finds from archaeological excavations along the coast, and within the Fort itself, as well as a new exhibit depicting the culture and history of the coast and its peoples. Also on display are artefacts excavated from the underwater shipwreck of the San Antonio de Tana which sank in Mombasa harbour off Fort Jesus in 1697.

fort Jesus museum is open everyday to the public from 8.00 to 18.00 hrs. Tour guides are available at the fort if you need one to show you around for a small fee.