Fortaleza, port city and state capital, northeastern Ceará estado (state), northeastern Brazil. The city lies at the mouth of the Pajeú River on a crescent-shaped indentation of the coastline.
Fortaleza originated as a small village adjoining a Portuguese fort (built as a defense against Indian attacks). It took the name of Villa do Forte da Assumpção in 1654. In 1810 it became the capital of Ceará captaincy and in 1823 was given city status and became the provincial (later state) capital under the name of Fortaleza Nova de Bragança.