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El Cañonazo: Pirates, British and Cannon Blast
When every evening at 9:00 pm a cannon blast is heard in most parts of Havana, after the initial shock, unsuspecting visitors wonder where the thunderous sound is coming from and what this seemingly “act of war” is all about in such a peaceful, happy and carefree city as the Cuban capital. Those who enjoy greater sense of direction, immediately turn their eyes toward the striking complex of fortifications just across the bay.
Pirates and El Morro
The designation of Havana as the capital of the island of Cuba made it clear that from that moment on, the wide strategic bay would become a vital port where the Spanish ships would make rendezvous before sailing across the Atlantic. The Castillo de la Real Fuerza was built by Spain on the western side of the bay between 1558 and 1577 to deposit the gold extracted from its colonies, since pirate attacks in the area were constant, especially after the fame earned by Sir Francis Drake in the late 16th century.
With pirates and corsairs lurking around the Caribbean, it became necessary, therefore, to strengthen further the bay of Havana, especially its channel entrance. For this purpose, the Italian military engineer and builder of fortresses Juan Bautista Antonelli, and master mason Juan de Texeda were brought over to carry out a fortification project, which included the construction of the Castillo de los Tres Santos Reyes Magos del Morro on the east side of the entrance to the harbor, and San Salvador de La Punta, on the western side. In 1588, King Philip II of Spain approved the projects, but the money and labor force were not enough. Various arguments concerning the execution of the work, the withdrawal of Antonelli, and disputes with the captains general delayed the completion of the works, especially El Morro, until 1610, although the lenticular beacon that characterizes it today dates from 1845. Given that Sir Francis Drake never attacked the fort, some claim that it remained as a tribute to piracy.
The British and La Cabaña
After the siege of the city by British forces in August 1762—thanks to a fleet of more than 50 warships, around 200 auxiliary vessels and over 20,000 troops—it became clear that the system of fortifications built by the Spanish in the coveted harbor in Havana had failed to protect the city from enemy attacks.
Only 11 months later, on July 6, 1763, the British handed over the city to the Spanish in exchange for Florida under the Treaty of Paris. Spain then sent Lieutenant General Count Ricla to Cuba to reestablish the administrative, legal, economic, commercial, social, political, religious and cultural mechanisms, which had been dismantled by the occupation. His first task was to repair and enhance the city’s defense system building different fortifications, such as Fuerte de Atarés and Castillo del Príncipe, and completing the great wall that surrounded the city and whose construction had begun in the 17th century.
From 1763 to 1779, on the very site where the British had become strong and breached the defense of El Morro, the colonial government built the San Carlos de La Cabaña fortress, one of the largest in America. Named after King Carlos III of Spain, the stronghold—700 meters long ??covering 10 hectares—was built by Pedro Medina under the guidance of engineer Silvestre de Abarca and cost 14 million gold pesos. Legend has it that when the King learned of the extraordinary amount of money invested in the fortress, he asked for “a telescope to see such monumental work from Madrid.”
But what about the “Cañonazo”?
From the late 17th century, cannon blasts were fired from a flagship in the harbor “at sunrise and sunset”, that is, 4:30 am and 8:00 pm, to announce the opening or closing of the bay and the city gates. However, upon completion of La Cabaña, the cannons were fired from the fortress. Although the walls began to be demolished in 1863, the custom remained intact until 1898, when it was decided to fire only one shot at 9:00 pm.
During World War II, the detonation that was by then used by Habaneros to put their watches on time was put on hold, some say due to gunpowder shortage and others to prevent German submarines in the Caribbean seas to detect the Cuban capital. Whatever the reason may have been, with the end of the war, the cannon-firing custom was reintroduced.
With the restoration of La Cabaña in the late 20th century, the firing of the cannon became a ceremony, albeit somewhat eclectic, given that the soldiers are garbed in 18th-century military garb but whose commands belong to the 19th-century Spanish Infantry Regulations.
As always, opinion is divided—some people regard the ceremony of firing the cannon as a continuity of a longstanding tradition, while others describe it as the apotheosis of kitsch. However, most Habaneros have at least once in their lives crossed the bay to relive the days when their ancestors, at the sound of the cannon shot, rushed to the wall gates to avoid being left out during the night.
July 2012
