the pico (peak) has been used for military strategy since 1567, but it was viceroy d. luís almeida of portugal (1769-79) who, when constructing 'forte de são luís', ordered the pico to be turned into a cannon 'battery'.

it was decommissioned during the regency period of 1831-40, but then rearmed during the 1860's, when it was given the name 'forte do pico' during the questão christie (christie question), a diplomatic crisis between brazil and england.

the 'question' was a dispute between the governments of the then empire of brazil and great britain, which occurred between 1862 and 1865.