Elvas

Date of Known Existance

(No Date) Prehistoric occupation by Gallo-Celtic peoples

700 - 1100

Original Construction Date

Muslims conquered Elvas and built the first fortification there.

1226

Abandonment Date

Reconquered by Leonese and Portuguese troops and then abandoned

05/01/1229

Reconstruction Date

Remodeling defenses, reconstruction of the castle, construction of first tower (Dinis I of Portugal)

1231

Reconstruction Date

Construction of a tower follows the granting of a charter

1325 - 1383

Reconstruction Date

Construction of fence to prevent attacks from Afonso IX of Castile; Begun during the reign of Alfonso IV of Portugal and finished under Fernando I of Portugal, no dates given

1484

Reconstruction Date

Reconstruction of fortifications under Joao II of Portugal, including the keep

1498 - 1513

Reconstruction Date

Reconstruction of castle begun under Manuel I of Portugal, including work on the keep and the addition of walls, towers, doors, and a barbican

Roman Conquest

(Date Issue) From 2nd century BCE, Romans conquered and urbanized the site so that it that overlooked the crossing of some of the southernly roads of the Iberian peninsula. Some scholars believe that a port/gate/door inside the medieval castle dates to this period of Roman construction

400

Other Conquest

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Elvas was successively conquered by the Suevi and Visigoths

700 - 1100

Muslim Conquest

Muslims conquered Elvas and built the first fortification there.

1169

Christian Reconquest

Reconquest by the forces of Afonso I of Portugal, possibly led by Geraldo sem Pavor

1223

Muslim Conquest

(Unidentified) Muslims reconquered Elvas early in the reign of Sancho II of Portugal

1226

Christian Reconquest

Reconquered by Leonese and Portuguese troops and then abandoned

1228

Other Conquest

Elvas definitively reconquered by the Portuguese

1325 - 1327

Other Conquest

Alfonso IX of Castile harassed Elvas from 1325 to 1327

1334

Other Conquest

For 2 days in 1334, Alfonso IX of Castile attacked Elvas

1337

Other Conquest

Alfonso IX of Castile attacked Elvas for an undisclosed period of time

1381

Fernandine Wars

During the Fernandine Wars, Elvas was attacked by Castilian troops under the command of Infante D. João of Portugal (Son of Pedro I of Portugal with Inês de Castro)

1383

Succession Crisis

Governor attempts to undermine Beatriz of Portugal during Crisis of Succession; overrun by villagers and remains loyal to Portugal

1385

Succession Crisis

For 25 days, Elvas, with its new mayor Gil Fernandes, resisted a siege by forces under the command of João I of Castela

05/01/1229

Charter

Elvas receives first charter to attract Christian settlers

1231

Charter

Dinis I of Portugal grants a new charter to the village for the construction of a tower

06/01/1512

Foral Novo Charter

Elvas receives the Foral Novo