Castle of Almada
The Castle of Almada (Portuguese: Castle of Almada) is a medieval castle in the town of Almada, the Setúbal district of Portugal.
| Castle of Almada | |
|---|---|
Castelo de Almada | |
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| General information | |
| Location | Almada |
History
Early History
The Town is strategically located on the left bank of the Tagus river and borders Lisbon. Its current name dates back to the Muslim occupation when called al- Madan ( mine gold or silver), alluding to the mining activity practiced in the region at the time. [1]
Medieval Era
During the Christian reconquest of the Iberian peninsula, the combined forces of Afonso Henriques (1112-1185) reconquered Lisbon and the village in 1147. Strengthening and expanding town's defenses , the king granted the village is Foral charter in 1170.
Afonso's successor Sancho I (1185-1211) , is granted to the town of Almada its second charter in 1190.[2]
The forces of the Almohad Caliphate under the command of Caliph Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur had reconquered the Algarve region and, advancing to the north, took control of Alcázar Castle of Sal Castle Palmela and Almada Castle in 1191, razing both. The Portuguese recaptured the town of Almada in 1195, reconstructing his castle. However, just after the Battle of Navas de Tolosa (1212), when there was a decisive victory of the peninsular Christians against the Moors, that were reconquered lands lost beyond the lines of borders extending from the river Tagus to Évora.[3]
During the 1383-1385 crisis, in the context of the siege of the city of Lisbon, Almada was surrounded by the forces of Castile, and the Constable D. Nuno Alvares Pereira tried to free the town in November 1384. They left the next year.
15th century to modern times
Over the centuries, the castle was successively expanded and strengthened, most notably under of King Manuel I (1495-1521), a tower in the south of the wall sector.
In the context of the Portuguese Civil War (1828-1834), the castle was the final Miguelist position to surrender to the liberal forces.
Today, occupied by Setúbal Intervention Detachment of the National Guard, the group preserves part of its ancient walls. Open to the public, the castle garden is a tourist and leisure point.
Gallery
<gallery> File:Forte de almada (7).jpg| File:Forte de almada.jpg| File:Forte de almada (3).jpg| File:Forte de almada (2).jpg| File:Forte de almada (8).jpg| File:Forte de almada (4).jpg|
- ^ "Monumentos". www.monumentos.pt. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
- ^ "DGPC | Direção Geral do Património Cultural". www.patrimoniocultural.pt. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
- ^ "Castelo de Almada - História e Imagens do Castelo de Almada". História de Portugal. Retrieved 2016-02-27.