Fort Richelieu facts for kids
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| Established | 1641 |
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| Location | Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada. |
| Official name: Fort Richelieu National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1923 |
Fort Richelieu is an old fort in La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada. A fort is like a strong building or place built to defend an area. This fort is so important that it's called a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's a special place recognized for its history.
Fort Richelieu was one of five forts built along the Richelieu River. It stands right at the start of the river. Other forts nearby include Fort Chambly, Fort Sainte-Thérèse, and Fort Saint-Jean. There was also Fort Sainte Anne (Vermont) further south on Isle La Motte, Vermont. These forts were built to keep people safe. They protected travelers on the river from attacks by the Iroquois people. Because of these forts, the area is sometimes called "la Vallée-des-Forts," which means "the Valley of the Forts."
The Story of Fort Richelieu
The first Fort Richelieu was built in 1641. It was placed right where the Richelieu River begins, close to the city we now call Sorel-Tracy.
A very important person named Charles Huault de Montmagny built this fort. He was the first Governor of New France. A Governor was like the main leader or manager of the colony. He named the fort after Cardinal Richelieu. A Cardinal is a high-ranking official in the Catholic Church, and this Cardinal was also a powerful minister to King Louis XIII of France.
Sadly, the first fort didn't last long. The Iroquois burned it down in 1647.
But the story didn't end there! In 1665, the fort was rebuilt. This time, soldiers from the Carignan-Salières Regiment did the work. A regiment is a large group of soldiers. They rebuilt the fort in the exact same spot. Their leader was a man named Pierre de Saurel.
See also
In Spanish: Fort Richelieu para niños
- List of French forts in North America
