조선 초기 수군영진의 해상방어는 고려의 해상방어론을 계승하여 선상수어(船上守禦) 원칙에 의하여 만호의 지휘하에 병기와 양식을 병선에 적재하고 선상에서 대기 근무하는 것이었다. 이와 같은 수군의 선상수어 원칙에 의하여 성보(城堡)를 축조하지 못하다가 성종 15년에 경상도와 전라도에 한정하여 병기와 육물(陸物)을 저장할 작은 규모의 석보(石堡)를 축조할 것을 건의하게 되었으며, 각 포에 성보를 축조하면 만호의 거처가 된다는 대신들의 반대가 있었음에도 성종은 “일이 이미 거행되었으니, 멈출 수 없다. 뒤에 만약에 변고가 있으면 별도의 조치가 있어야 할 것이다.” 하여 축성을 강행하고 있다. 그리하여 성종 17년 10월 제포에 축성한 것을 시작으로 중종17년(1522) 까지는 서해안과 동해안의 수군진도 성보를 축조하게 되었다. 안흥진성의 초축시기는 문헌상으로 확인이 되지 않고 있으며, 효종 4년(1653)에 화정도로 이설(移設)한 후 효종 6년부터 축성하기 시작한 기록이 『조선왕조실록』, 『비변사등록』, 『대동지지』, 『증보문헌비고』 등에 수록되어 있다. 그리하여 화정도로 이설하여 축성한 기록이 수록된 『대동지지』를 인용하여 안흥성 조사보고서에는 안흥진성이 효종 6년(1655)에 축성되었다고 하였고, 문화재청 문화유산 검색창에서도 안흥성이 효종대에 축조된 것으로 소개되어 있다. 그러나, 『대동지지』에는 현종 10년에 안흥진을 화정도 신진(新鎭)에서 본진(本鎭)으로 다시 이설하고 있음이 기록되어 있고, 『조선왕조실록』과 『비변사등록』에는 구진(舊鎭)과 신진(新鎭)과의 이설과정이 상세하게 기록되어 있어 분명히 초축시기의 안흥진 본진(本鎭)과 화정도 신진(新鎭)의 성곽이 축조되어 있었음을 밝혀주고 있다. 문헌상에 누락된 안흥진성 초축시기를 밝혀줄 수 있는 각자성석(刻字城石)이 1993년 공주대학교 박물관에 의한 안흥성 조사과정에서 확인되었다. 각자성석의 명문은 「萬曆十一年癸未閏二月…」로 시작하는 내용으로 만력(萬曆) 11년은 선조 16년(1583)에 해당되어 이 때를 안흥진성 본진의 초축시기로 파악하게 되었다. 또한, 안흥진성 체성에 대한 2차례의 발굴조사 결과를 통하여 두 시기의 축조기법이 확인되어 초축시기 및 수축시기로 판단하게 되었다. 최근에 이루어진 안흥진성에 대한 학술회의에서 많은 연구성과가 있었음에도 신진(新鎭)과 구진(舊鎭)의 축성 및 수축사실에 대한 해명이 이루어지지 못하고 말았다. 이와같은 오류를 야기한 것은 효종 4년에 안흥진을 화정도로 이설하여 현종 10년 본진(本鎭)으로 다시 이설하기까지 16년간 안흥진이 화정도의 신진(新鎭)에 있었다는 것을 간과하였기 때문이다. 그리하여 화정도의 신진(新鎭)에는 축성되지 않았고, 본진이었던 구진(舊鎭)의 수축공역은 신진의 축성 사실과 구진의 수축 사실을 혼합하여 효종 7년 3월 이전에 시작하여 효종 7년 10월에 완공되었다는 오류를 낳게 되었다. 이는 숙종 1년 기록인 『비변사등록』, <안흥방어사사목(安興防禦使事目)>에서 구진(舊鎭)에 수축공역이 8월에 시작되어 10월에 완공되었다는 3개월간의 수축공역을 왜곡한 것이다. 문헌기록에 본진(本鎭)과 구진(舊鎭)으로 수록된 현재의 안흥진성은 선조 16년(1583)에 초축되었고, 신진(新鎭)의 축성 도중인 효종 6년 8월에서 10월까지 수축공역이 완공되었다. 『비변사등록』, <안흥방어사사목(安興防禦使事目)>에서 구진(舊鎭)의 수축년도가 적시되지 않아 혼동을 주고 있지만 총감독관인 충청도 감사 권우(權堣)의 재임시기를 적용하여 대비하면 효종 6년이 틀림없다고 하겠다. 이 수축공역에는 충청도의 5진영 중 좌영(左營) 속오군 2,200여명을 선발하고 승군(僧軍)으로 돕도록 하여 축조하였다. 효종 4년에 화정도로 이설한 안흥진 신진(新鎭)에 대한 축성은 효종 6년에 축성공역이 시작되어 효종 7년에 성곽축조는 완공되었으며, 이때는 축성공역으로 도내가 소요하였다고 하는 것으로 보아 충청도 전 고을에서 축성군을 동원하였던 것으로 파악된다. 효종 8년에는 안흥 신진(新鎭)의 물 부족 문제로 존치문제가 거론되었으나 대신들과 비변사 신하들의 의견에 따라 신진(新鎭) 안흥진성을 계속 운영하기로 결정하고 있다. 그러나, 현종 10년 2월 4일 예조판서 김좌명이 ‘안흥의 구진(舊鎭)이 형세가 매우 좋았는데, 신진(新鎭)으로 이주한 이후 불편한 일이 많고, 토병(土兵)들도 원망하며 괴롭게 여기고 있다’고 하자, 좌의정 허적이 안흥첨사진을 구진(舊鎭)으로 옮기고 별장(別將)도 혁파하여 신진(新鎭)에서는 수군을 모두 철수하는 겻으로 건의하였으며 이를 현종이 재가하고 있다. 그리하여 효종 4년(1653)에 화정도로 이설(移設)하였던 안흥진은 현종 10년(1669)에 구진(舊鎭)인 현재의 안흥진성으로 다시 이설하게 되었다.
During the early Joseon period, the Korean navy’s maritime defense consisted in loading up a battleship with weapons and provisions and in standing by on board, led by the officer. Such a naval system was based on the principle of on-board defense. Such a maritime defense principle had been initiated during the Goryeo period. This principle of on-board defense kept the country from constructing fortifications. During the 15th year of King Seongjong, there was a suggestion of building small stone fortifications in Gyeongsang and Jeolla Provinces in order to store up weapons and provisions there. Some government officials were against this idea, saying that the newly constructed fortifications at military posts would end up being officers’ residences. Nevertheless, King Seongjong said, “The project was already launched so we can’t stop it. If there is any problem later on, we will need to take separate measures.” In this way, the king went on with the construction project. Under these circumstances, a fortresss was built first at the Jepo port in October of the 17th year of King Seongjong. By 1522 (17th year of King Jungjong), Joseon built fortifications for the navy stationed at its east and west coasts. The first construction of Anheungjinseong Fortress is not documented. However, historical documents do explain that the fortress was moved to Hwajeongdo in 1653 (4th year of King Hyojong) and that it began to be built during the 6th year of King Hyojong. Such records are found in The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, Bibyeonsa Deungrok (records of the Border Defense Council of Joseon), Daedongjiji (geography book) and Jeungbo Munheon Bigo (encyclopedia). Referring to Daedongjiji, which describes how the fortress was transferred to Hwajeongdo to be built again there, the “Anheungjinseong Studies Report” says that the fortress was constructed in 1655 (6th year of King Hyojong). The cultural heritage search engine on the website of the Cultural Heritage Administration also says that the fortress was built during the reign of King Hyojong. However, Daedongjiji makes clear that Anheungjinseong Fortress was moved again from its new location in Hwajeongdo to its original location during the 10th year of King Hyeonjong. In addition, The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and Bibyeonsa Deungrok elaborate on how the fortress was moved between its old and new locations. This means that Anheungjinseong Fortress was first constructed in its original location and that it was also constructed in its new location in Hwajeongdo. The date of the fortress’ first construction, which doesn’t appear in historical documents, has been unveiled thanks to a stone monument with a text inscribed on it. This monument was discovered in 1993 when Kongju National University Museum conducted research on the fortress. The text on the monument mentions the “11th year of the Wanli Emperor,” which is 1583 (16th year of King Seonjo). Therefore, the year 1583 came to be regarded as the date of the first construction of the original fortress of Anheungjinseong. Furthermore, two excavation projects of the fortress body of Anheungjinseong led to clarifying construction techniques dating from two historical periods, which came to be known as the period of its first construction and that of its additional construction respectively. Although a great volume of research has recently been conducted on the occasion of symposiums on Anheungjinseong Fortress, researchers have failed to shed light on the construction and additional work of the old and new fortresses. They have failed to explain the matter because they have overlooked the fact that Anheungjinseong Fortress was in its new location in Hwajeongdo for 16 years from the time when the fortress was moved to Hwajeongdo (4th year of King Hyojong) to the time when it was transferred again to its original location (10th year of King Hyeonjong). Supposing that the fortress wasn’t built in its new location in Hwajeongdo, they have tried to explain the construction of the old (original) fortress by mixing the facts about the new and old fortresses. Consequently, they have wrongly concluded that the fortress began to be built before March of the 7th year of King Hyojong and that it was completed in October of the 7th year of King Hyojong. Such a conclusion distorts the three-month construction work in the old location which was launched in August and completed in October. This is explained in the chapter “Anheung Bangeo Sasamok” in Bibyeonsa Deungrok, historical records of the 1st year of King Sukjong. Today’s Anheungjinseong Fortress, whose original and old location is described in historical records, was first constructed in 1583 (16th year of King Seonjo). The fortress was completed from August to October of the 6th year of King Hyojong, during the construction work in its new location. Bibyeonsa Deungrok (“Anheung Bangeo Sasamok”) doesn’t specify when the old fortress was built, generating confusion. Nevertheless, considering the tenure of Gwon Wu, governor of Chungcheong Province who supervised the construction project, it is certain that the fortress was built during the 6th year of King Hyojong. The project mobilized about 2,200 reservists from the left camp, one of the five military camps in Chungcheong Province, as well as monk soldiers. During the 4th year of King Hyojong, Anheungjinseong was moved to Hwajeongdo and its new fortress was built. This construction work was launched during the 6th year of King Hyojong and completed during the 7th year of King Hyojong. Historical documents say that the construction project caused a commotion throughout the province at that time. This implies that the project would have mobilized workers from all the villages in Chungcheong Province. During the 8th year of King Hyojong, the very existence of Anheungjinseong Fortress was jeopardized due to the water shortage at the new fortress. However, subjects at the Border Defense Council of Joseon and government officials persuaded the country to keep running the fortress in its new location. On February 4 of the 10th year of King Hyeonjong, Kim Jwa-myeong, then minister of culture and education, said, “The topography of the old fortress of Anheungjinseong was very good but ever since it was moved to its new location, we have had so many problems. Local soldiers have also complained about it while having a hard time.” At this, Heo Jeok, then first vice-premier. suggested moving the fortress to its old location and withdrawing local officials and naval forces from the new fortress. King Hyeonjong approved the suggestion. As a result, Anheungjinseong Fortress, which had been moved to Hwajeongdo in 1653 (4th year of King Hyojong), came back to its old location in 1669 (10th year of King Hyeonjong). The fortress is still found there today.