Tavira Castle, Tavira, Algarve, Portugal, Europe

The Tavira Castle is located in the town of Santiago, Tavira, Faro District, Portugal. In dominant position over the mouth of the river Asseca, the town developed as major seaport since antiquity. While primitive human occupation of the region dates back to prehistoric times, an archaeological campaign undertaken in 1997 brought forth a Phoenician wall portion dating from the eighth century BC, proving the existence of a warehouse or a colony established here by that people sailors and traders. At the time of the Roman invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, the village, then called Ferry, acquired strategic importance due to the construction of a bridge over the river. Although have not been located remains of a fortification materials in this period, it is believed that a posting has garnished this stretch of ancient Roman road. Although archaeological research dates back to the eleventh century Muslim settlement, the first written information about it date from the first half of the twelfth century, when it was called at-Tabira, referring to his fortification in the context of struggles between Almoravids and Almohads, which led to Submission to the village emir Almunine, in 1168. The albuminé site twice emir in the days of his emirate in Seville, but resisted it and defended himself with his evil against it until the rendered God in his caliphate, for their good fortune at the end of Dulcada month of the year that historiamos. "(Ibne Sahib al-Sala. al-Mann Bil-Imama). Tavira was constituted then, along with Santa Maria al-Harum (current Faro) and Shilb (now Silves), one of the main towns in the al- gharb al-Andalus. At the time of the Christian Reconquista of the peninsula, the Portuguese forces reach the Algarve east from Tavira was conquered in 1238. June 11, 1239 (May 1240, according to Alexandre Herculano or 1242 seconds other sources), by the forces of King Paio Peres Correia, Master of the Order of Santiago. The tradition associated with this achievement to a reprisal of that Order for the death of seven of their riders in an ambush when hunting at the site of the Antas (Parish of Light).
The January 9, 1242 (or 1244 seconds other sources), Sancho II of Portugal (1223-1248) donated the areas of Tavira and the patronage of his church to the Order of Santiago, donation confirmed in 1245 by Pope Innocent IV. On the pretext that the city had been conquered by a Military Order Castilian Alfonso X of Castile claimed it for themselves, come to impose siege and conquer it in 1252. The following year, signed a treaty by which Alfonso III of Portugal (1248-1279) wed the daughter of Alfonso X, and if this union resulted a child to come to complete the seven years, the maternal grandfather would give as gifts Algarve. Having the conditions that statute was completed in 1264, Alfonso X gave the Algarve Afonso III by letter of 20 September, set in Seville. Because of this act, the Portuguese sovereign granted charters to several Algarve villages, the first of which Tavira in August 1266. Under the reign of King Dinis (1279-1325), the castle was repaired and strengthened and the about the expanded village (1292), as epigraphic inscription. Date of this period the erection of the Keep. The sovereign, by Royal Charter 1303, extended the privileges of the residents, preventing their assets were seized or sold except for debts to the Crown. At the time of the 1383-1385 crisis, the Master of Avis donated Reguengo de Tavira to Ferdinand Alvares Pereira, the Constable Nuno Alvares Pereira brother. Later, after the conquest of Ceuta, started the process of the Portuguese Discoveries, the village would see its strategic and economic importance increase. The castle, however, present risk of collapse, as the complaint of its people before the courts of 1475. Under the reign of Manuel I of Portugal (1495-1521), the village received the Foral New (1504), rising to to city status on March 16, 1520, among other important privileges. Is your Alcaide chief at the time Vasco Eanes Corte-Real. In 1573, when King Sebastian (1568-1578) visit Tavira, are in progress the works of construction of the Santo Antonio Fort (Fort Mouse), opposite to the river Gilão bar in 1577.