The Knights Templar in Portugal
The Knights Templar in Portugal
Having arrived in Portugal in the time of Countess Teresa. The Knights Templar were present at many of the crucial moments in the history of Portugal. The Knights Templar castle was built around 1160. In 1190, the Christian Knights fought to free Portugal from Islamic control. The Tejo River was crossed by an Islamic army, besieged Tomar, and captured the nearby castle of Torres Novas.
The town was Control by the Muslim army for six days but never surrendered to them. The Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Gualdim Pais, defended the Tomar successfully. This victory underscored the military strength of the Templar Order and the part it had to play in defeating the Moors.
Gualdim Pais founded Tomar, and his statue stands in the town’s historic center’s main square. He gave land to new Christian settlers who were moving into lands that had been liberated from Muslim rule. He was a great guy.
Order of Christ
The Templar’s land and wealth were taken from them, and the Order was finish also. With the exception of Portugal. The allegations leveled against the Order were dismiss by King Dinis of Portugal. The king offered the other protection Order. The order called ‘Order of Christ’. The templars headquarter far away from the Tomar. He moved headquarter to the order of christ to the fortress at Castro Marim near the Spain border.
So, Under their new name, the Knights Templar no longer had a headquarters in Tomar. However, it was revive hundred years later by one of history’s most outstanding men, Prince Henry, the Navigator.
The Knights Templar Order’s spirit is still alive and well in Tomar. The Knights Templar is the subject of several books and films. However, their contributions to Portugal and the New World’s discoveries have received little attention outside of the country.
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