Fontelo
Encyclopedia
Fontelo is a parish in the northern municipality of Alijó in Portugal, with approximately 816 inhabitants, in an area of 7.52 km².
of São Domingos, which was a Romanized rural villa, that marks the first referential indication of the local settlement. The settlement's growth is intimately linked to the chapel that was constructed on the mount of São Domingos, in place of a pagan hermitage.
In the second half of the 12th century, Fontelo was divided between groups: Egas Moniz, Pero Viegas and the Crown.
Fontelo became a centre of the Order of Hospitallers
through the donation of Veraca Sanches, daughter of Sancho I
, which helped the resettlement of the community. During the donatorio period, the Coutinho family became the primary benefactors, rich nobles who were the alcaides of Lamego and Trancoso, and who would be instrumental as Counts of Marialva. Later, it became a command of the Order of Malta, with a resident bishop, conceded by the Casa dos Santos. It was also the seat of vicarage of the Bishopric of Lamego, with rector.
As legend suggests, King Afonso V
visited the ancient Chapel of São Domingos with Queen Elizabeth of Aragon
in 1454, on his journey to battle in Toro. A similar trip was later taken by his son John II
and Queen Leonor, a few years later. The latter's trip was to request divine intervention in order for the couple conceive an heir to the throne. The couple returned in 1483, with their son, the Infante Afonso (born on 18 May 1475), and ever since, couples that wished to, or had difficulties in, conceiving would sleep on the pedra propiciatória (favourable stone), also the fraga da fertilidade (boulder of fertility), located beside the sacristy door in the chapel.
At one time it was municipality of its own, elevated on 17 May 1514 by the Manueline
foral
, with its own magistrate, secretary, two councilmen, a prosecutor, jail, municipal salon and pillory
. The municipality was extinguished in 1834-35, and the parish was integrated into the municipality of Armamar.
History
There are a few elements that prove the antiquity of the settlement of Fontelo. The castroCastro culture
Castro culture is the archaeological term for naming the Celtic archaeological culture of the northwestern regions of the Iberian Peninsula from the end of the Bronze Age until it was subsumed in local Roman culture...
of São Domingos, which was a Romanized rural villa, that marks the first referential indication of the local settlement. The settlement's growth is intimately linked to the chapel that was constructed on the mount of São Domingos, in place of a pagan hermitage.
In the second half of the 12th century, Fontelo was divided between groups: Egas Moniz, Pero Viegas and the Crown.
Fontelo became a centre of the Order of Hospitallers
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
through the donation of Veraca Sanches, daughter of Sancho I
Sancho I of Portugal
Sancho I , nicknamed the Populator , second monarch of Portugal, was born on 11 November 1154 in Coimbra and died on 26 March 1212 in the same city. He was the second but only surviving legitimate son and fourth child of Afonso I of Portugal by his wife, Maud of Savoy. Sancho succeeded his father...
, which helped the resettlement of the community. During the donatorio period, the Coutinho family became the primary benefactors, rich nobles who were the alcaides of Lamego and Trancoso, and who would be instrumental as Counts of Marialva. Later, it became a command of the Order of Malta, with a resident bishop, conceded by the Casa dos Santos. It was also the seat of vicarage of the Bishopric of Lamego, with rector.
As legend suggests, King Afonso V
Afonso V of Portugal
Afonso V KG , called the African , was the twelfth King of Portugal and the Algarves. His sobriquet refers to his conquests in Northern Africa.-Early life:...
visited the ancient Chapel of São Domingos with Queen Elizabeth of Aragon
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:...
in 1454, on his journey to battle in Toro. A similar trip was later taken by his son John II
John II of Portugal
John II , the Perfect Prince , was the thirteenth king of Portugal and the Algarves...
and Queen Leonor, a few years later. The latter's trip was to request divine intervention in order for the couple conceive an heir to the throne. The couple returned in 1483, with their son, the Infante Afonso (born on 18 May 1475), and ever since, couples that wished to, or had difficulties in, conceiving would sleep on the pedra propiciatória (favourable stone), also the fraga da fertilidade (boulder of fertility), located beside the sacristy door in the chapel.
At one time it was municipality of its own, elevated on 17 May 1514 by the Manueline
Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...
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 ....
, with its own magistrate, secretary, two councilmen, a prosecutor, jail, municipal salon and pillory
Pillory
The pillory was a device made of a wooden or metal framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used for punishment by public humiliation and often further physical abuse, sometimes lethal...
. The municipality was extinguished in 1834-35, and the parish was integrated into the municipality of Armamar.