Melgaço

1460

Transfer of Possession

Castle of Melgaço donated to the marquis of Vila Viçosa, son of the Duke of Bragança, by Afonso V of Portugal

1183

Date of Known Existance

First document mentioning Melgaço is a charter in which Soeiro Aires gives the village to Afonso I of Portugal

1199

Original Construction Date

D. Pero Pires, prior of the Augustinian monastery of Longos Vales in Monção and brother of the archibishop of the Archidocese of Braga (D. Mauricio Pires) founded the citadel and keep of Melgaço

1219

Reconstruction Date

Construction period following the confirmation of the charter by Afonso II of Portugal, largely financed by the Monastery of Longos Vales and the Monastery of Fiães

1245

Reconstruction Date

Second stage of fortification begun under the reign of Sancho II of Portugal

- 1263

Reconstruction Date

Third stage of fortification and construction completed by 1263 according to inscription, which also identifies the Mayor Martinho Goncalves as the financier and Mestre as the builder

- 1361

Reconstruction Date

Passage between Portugal and Galicia finished by this time - this passage included Melgaço

1367

Reconstruction Date

Fernando I of Portugal contributed to the defense of Melgaço by repairing walls, towers, and a moat ("arbor pits")

1388

Reconstruction Date

Tower rebuilt and defensive system strengthened

09/01/1388

Reconstruction Date

João I of Portugal has some sort of reconstruction done to the ditch outside of the barbican (English translation of Fortazelas unclear)

1391

Destruction Date

(Fortalezas unclear when destruction of defenses occurred) "In 1391, due to the village's location at the northern end of the kingdom, unpopulated and its defenses largely ruined, the sovereign granted him privileges to the market vendors."

1481

Reconstruction Date

During the reign of João II of Portugal, a barbican was constructed to ensure a safe approach to a water supply point. It was detached from the barbican and topped by a semicircular tower with a door to the south. Defended the east entrance of the village and protected an important well

1500

Reconstruction Date

New "remate" built on tower with "mata-cães" and battlements

1212

Other Conquest

Invasion of forces from the Kingdom of Leão during dispute between Afonso II of Portugal and his sisters. Castle and walls damaged

07/01/1388

Succession Crisis

Melgaço besieged by Portuguese forces under the command of João I of Portugal, in the aftermath of the Succession Crisis, for 52 days, after which the village fell.

1183

Charter

First document mentioning Melgaço is a charter in which Soeiro Aires gives the village to Afonso I of Portugal

1219

Charter

Afonso II of Portugal grants Melgaço a charter

1258

Charter

Afonso III of Portugal grants Melgaço a charter that was quickly revoked (no date): "determined that the mayor was royally appointed and that the noble in charge of the governance of Terra de Valadares could not be denied entry, provisions which did not please the population since these provisions came to alter a deliberation by Afonso Henriques. In the face of protests, the sovereign revoked the new charter and restored that of D. Afonso Henriques with slight modifications of an economic nature."

1391

Charter

(Fortalezas unclear when destruction of defenses occurred) "In 1391, due to the village's location at the northern end of the kingdom, unpopulated and its defenses largely ruined, the sovereign granted him privileges to the market vendors."