After the War of the Restoration of Independence the Portuguese Crown undertook a comprehensive reform of land and sea fortifications under the direction of the António Luís de Meneses, 1st Marquis of Marialva. The fort was subject to works of modernization and expansion to increase the existing firepower, in recognition of the continued improvement of both ships and the artillery on them and the need to build forts that were more resistant to the greater firepower. The fort then formed an important part of what was arguably the largest set of fortifications in the world, stretching from Belém in Lisbon to Cabo da Roca on the Atlantic coast.