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Knights Templar in Portugal
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Knights Templar in Portugal
The presence of the Knights Templar in Portugal can be traced from 1128 until their dissolution in the 14th century.
Having played a key role during the Portuguese Reconquista by taking, settling or defending the territory from the Muslims, the Order was an influential organisation in Portugal and valuable partner to the Portuguese Crown. Unlike elsewhere in Europe, it suffered no persecution at the time of its dissolution, its members and property in Portugal being instead transferred by King Denis to the Order of Christ, created specifically for this very purpose.
Shortly after their creation, the Templars settled in Portugal in 1128, having been granted the frontier Castle of Soure on March 19, 1128 by Countess Teresa. The official act of donation took place in Braga, in the presence of Raymond Bernard, recruited by Hughes de Payens during his trip to Europe, possibly one of a small group of Templar scouts to seek donations for the Order.
This was a time of political tension in Portugal and just a few months afterwards Teresas heir Afonso Henriques revolted with the support of the Portuguese nobility and wrested control of the county at the Battle of São Mamede.
Afonso did not oppose the presence of the Order in the territory, he sought to involve it in the Reconquista efforts against the Muslims to the south and officially confirmed the donations granted by his mother.
The Templars quickly grew in numbers and influence during their first sixteen years in Portugal through the recruiting of local new members or the acquisition of property. Their first known military engagement in Portugal took place when the Muslim qaid of Santarém attacked Soure in 1144. The knights made a sortie, however they were defeated and the castle was pillaged, numbers being then taken to captivity. In 1145, the Templars were granted the castle of Longroiva by Afonso Henriques' sister and her husband Fernão Mendes de Bragança.
The Templars participated in Afonso Henriques conquest of Santarém, taken in 1147 during the night.
The Order was later granted the lands of Ceras by King Afonso, with a castle that was in ruins at the time. This donation was of strategic importance because Ceras lied close to the border, its castle defended a major road that linked Lisbon to Coimbra and it featured fertile grounds where an important settlement effort could be undertaken. Instead of renovating the ruined castle, the master of the Templars in Iberia Gualdim Pais commenced the construction of the formidable new castle of Tomar from the ground up, on March 1, 1160. It featured a number of innovations taken from castles in the Holy Land, where Pais had previously travelled to. Two years later Pais granted the town of Tomar a charter.
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Knights Templar in Portugal
The presence of the Knights Templar in Portugal can be traced from 1128 until their dissolution in the 14th century.
Having played a key role during the Portuguese Reconquista by taking, settling or defending the territory from the Muslims, the Order was an influential organisation in Portugal and valuable partner to the Portuguese Crown. Unlike elsewhere in Europe, it suffered no persecution at the time of its dissolution, its members and property in Portugal being instead transferred by King Denis to the Order of Christ, created specifically for this very purpose.
Shortly after their creation, the Templars settled in Portugal in 1128, having been granted the frontier Castle of Soure on March 19, 1128 by Countess Teresa. The official act of donation took place in Braga, in the presence of Raymond Bernard, recruited by Hughes de Payens during his trip to Europe, possibly one of a small group of Templar scouts to seek donations for the Order.
This was a time of political tension in Portugal and just a few months afterwards Teresas heir Afonso Henriques revolted with the support of the Portuguese nobility and wrested control of the county at the Battle of São Mamede.
Afonso did not oppose the presence of the Order in the territory, he sought to involve it in the Reconquista efforts against the Muslims to the south and officially confirmed the donations granted by his mother.
The Templars quickly grew in numbers and influence during their first sixteen years in Portugal through the recruiting of local new members or the acquisition of property. Their first known military engagement in Portugal took place when the Muslim qaid of Santarém attacked Soure in 1144. The knights made a sortie, however they were defeated and the castle was pillaged, numbers being then taken to captivity. In 1145, the Templars were granted the castle of Longroiva by Afonso Henriques' sister and her husband Fernão Mendes de Bragança.
The Templars participated in Afonso Henriques conquest of Santarém, taken in 1147 during the night.
The Order was later granted the lands of Ceras by King Afonso, with a castle that was in ruins at the time. This donation was of strategic importance because Ceras lied close to the border, its castle defended a major road that linked Lisbon to Coimbra and it featured fertile grounds where an important settlement effort could be undertaken. Instead of renovating the ruined castle, the master of the Templars in Iberia Gualdim Pais commenced the construction of the formidable new castle of Tomar from the ground up, on March 1, 1160. It featured a number of innovations taken from castles in the Holy Land, where Pais had previously travelled to. Two years later Pais granted the town of Tomar a charter.