Estremoz
Encyclopedia
Estremoz is a municipality in Portugal
with a total area of 513.82 km² and a total population of 15,673 inhabitants (2001). The city itself has a population of 7,682. It is located in the Alentejo region.
, Visigoth
and Muslim
occupation.
During the Reconquista
, Estremoz was captured in the 12th century by the army of knight Geraldo Sem Pavor (Gerald the Fearless), who had also conquered neighbouring Évora
. However, Estremoz was soon retaken by the Moors
and only in the mid-13th century reconquered by Portuguese King Sancho II
.
King Afonso III
granted a letter of feudal rights (foral
) to Estremoz in 1258, promoting the colonisation of the area. In the early 14th century, King Dinis I rebuilt the castle as a Royal Palace, turning the village into an important political centre. King Dinis' widow, Queen Isabel
, considered a saint by the people, died in Estremoz castle on July 4, 1336. Many later kings and queens lived in Estremoz, like Peter I
, who died at the Convent of St Francis in 1367.
During the 1383–1385 Crisis
, in which Portugal was almost conquered by neighbouring Castile
, Nuno Álvares Pereira
established his headquarters in Estremoz, and defeated the Castilian army nearby in the Battle of Atoleiros
.
Estremoz was again militarily important in the 17th century, during the Portuguese Restoration War
(1640-1668). Forces from Estremoz took part in the decisive Battles of Ameixial
(1663) and Montes Claros
(1665), once again against the Castilians.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
with a total area of 513.82 km² and a total population of 15,673 inhabitants (2001). The city itself has a population of 7,682. It is located in the Alentejo region.
Parishes
- Arcos
- Estremoz (Santa Maria)
- Estremoz (Santo André)
- Évora Monte (Santa Maria)
- Glória
- Santa Vitória do Ameixial
- Santo Estêvão
- São Bento de Ana Loura
- São Bento do Ameixial
- São Bento do Cortiço
- São Domingos de Ana Loura
- São Lourenço de Mamporcão
- Veiros
History
The region around Estremoz has been inhabited since pre-historic times. There are also vestiges of RomanAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, Visigoth
Visigoth
The Visigoths were one of two main branches of the Goths, the Ostrogoths being the other. These tribes were among the Germans who spread through the late Roman Empire during the Migration Period...
and Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
occupation.
During the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
, Estremoz was captured in the 12th century by the army of knight Geraldo Sem Pavor (Gerald the Fearless), who had also conquered neighbouring Évora
Évora
Évora is a municipality in Portugal. It has total area of with a population of 55,619 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Évora District and capital of the Alentejo region. The municipality is composed of 19 civil parishes, and is located in Évora District....
. However, Estremoz was soon retaken by the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
and only in the mid-13th century reconquered by Portuguese King Sancho II
Sancho II of Portugal
Sancho II , nicknamed "the Pious" and "the Caped" or "the Capuched" , , fourth King of Portugal, was the eldest son of Afonso II of Portugal by his wife, Infanta Urraca of Castile...
.
King Afonso III
Afonso III of Portugal
Afonso III , or Affonso , Alfonso or Alphonso or Alphonsus , the Bolognian , the fifth King of Portugal and the first to use the title King of Portugal and the Algarve, from 1249...
granted a letter of feudal rights (foral
Foral
thumb|left|200px|Foral of Castro Verde - PortugalThe word foral derives from the Portuguese word foro, ultimately from Latin forum, equivalent to Spanish fuero, Galician foro, Catalan furs and Basque foru ....
) to Estremoz in 1258, promoting the colonisation of the area. In the early 14th century, King Dinis I rebuilt the castle as a Royal Palace, turning the village into an important political centre. King Dinis' widow, Queen Isabel
Elizabeth of Aragon
Elizabeth of Aragon, also known as Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, T.O.S.F. , was queen consort of Portugal, a tertiary of the Franciscan Order and is venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church.-Biography:Elizabeth was a descendant of one of the most powerful families in Europe:...
, considered a saint by the people, died in Estremoz castle on July 4, 1336. Many later kings and queens lived in Estremoz, like Peter I
Peter I of Portugal
Peter I , called the Just , was the eighth King of Portugal and the Algarve from 1357 until his death. He was the third but only surviving son of Afonso IV of Portugal and his wife, princess Beatrice of Castile....
, who died at the Convent of St Francis in 1367.
During the 1383–1385 Crisis
1383–1385 Crisis
The 1383–1385 Crisis was a period of civil war in Portuguese history that began with the death of King Ferdinand I of Portugal, who left no male heirs, and ended with the accession to the throne of King John I in 1385, in the wake of the Battle of Aljubarrota.In Portugal, this period is also known...
, in which Portugal was almost conquered by neighbouring Castile
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
, Nuno Álvares Pereira
Nuno Álvares Pereira
Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira, O. Carm. , also spelled Nun'Álvares Pereira, was a Portuguese general of great success who had a decisive role in the 1383-1385 Crisis that assured Portugal's independence from Castile...
established his headquarters in Estremoz, and defeated the Castilian army nearby in the Battle of Atoleiros
Battle of Atoleiros
The Battle of Atoleiros took place on 6 April 1384, between a Portuguese force and a punitive expedition from Castile sent by John I. The battle took place near the population centre of the same name in Alentejo...
.
Estremoz was again militarily important in the 17th century, during the Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War was the name given by nineteenth-century 'romantic' historians to the war between Portugal and Spain that began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon . The revolution of 1640 ended the sixty-year period of dual monarchy in Portugal...
(1640-1668). Forces from Estremoz took part in the decisive Battles of Ameixial
Battle of Ameixial
The Battle of Ameixial, was fought on June 8, 1663, near the village of Santa Vitória do Ameixial, some 10 km north-west of Estremoz, between Spanish and Portuguese as part of the Portuguese Restoration War....
(1663) and Montes Claros
Battle of Montes Claros
The Battle of Montes Claros, was fought on June 17, 1665, near Vila Viçosa, between Spanish and Portuguese as the last battle in the Portuguese Restoration War....
(1665), once again against the Castilians.