Castle of Braganca
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The Castle of Bragança (Portuguese: Castelo de Bragança) is a medieval castle located in the parish of Santa Maria, in the historic center of the city, county and district of Bragança, Portugal.
This castle is one of the well presered castles in Portugal. From its walls, one can see the mountains of Montesinho and Sanabria (north), the Rebordões Caste (NE) and Nogueira (west).
History
Early History
Archaeological evidence suggest that early human occupation in the region, where the early humans erected a fort of some kind. The fortification was later upgraded and enhanced by the Romans during their time in the Iberian Peninsula. However, the the fortification was left in ruins when the Muslims entered the Iberian Peninsula, they conquered the castle and had it rebuilt.
Medieval Era
During the middle of the 10th century AD, the region of Braganza was placed under the care of Count Palo Gonçalves. Subsequently, the landlord passed the control of the land into the possession of a branch of the family Mendes. However, it was mentioned in a document dated July 7, 1128 that it was brought under control of Afonso I of Portugal (1112-1185). For denfensive reasons, the village was moved to the current site; It was near the hill of Benquerença on the sidelines of Fervença river, reusing them materials in the construction of new homes and a castle for defense of the people.
The town received its Foral Charter from King Sancho I (1185-1211). The sovereign endowed the village with funds to construct a wall in March 1188. During this time, the conflict between Sancho I and Leon resulted in violence and saw Leonese forces taken over the village.
During the reign of King Dinis (1279-1325), the village erected a walled perimeter (1293), signifiying a propersity of the village. His successor King Afonso IV (1325-1357), ascended the throne and siezed the assests of his illigitemate brother. Defneding its interests, Afonso Sanches started a rebellion, invading Braganza and leaving a huge amount of damage. King Dinis' widow brought peace back. Conflicts between this sovereign and King Alfonso IX of Leon led to the region was invaded by forces from Leon (1199) to the reaction of the Portuguese sovereign.
In the midst of the 1383-1385 Portuguese succession crises, the mayor of the town Joao Afonso Pimentel did not take sides, having conflicted feelings on taking sides. Later, the land was taken by the kingdom of Castile, only to be returned to Portuguese possession by the King John I in the Treaty of Treaty of Segovia in 1400. He conducted massive reinforcement of the defenses. The marriage fo King Alfonso (1st Early of Braganza) and Beatriz, daughter of Nuno Alvares Pereira started the House of Braganza. During their time, Afonso V (1438-1481) raised Bragança to town status.
During the reign of King Manuel I (1495-1521), the rtown and its acstle are recorded in the Duarte de Armas (Book of Fortresses).
post-middle ages=
During the succession crises of 1580, Bragança sided with Anonion. During the War of Restoration for the independence of Portugal, the ancient castle suffered damage. In a chapter of the Seven Years War, Spain [Fantastic War |invaded Portugal], heavily damaging the castle. ing the castle.
On the eve of the Peninsular War, the eastern section of the castle was rebuilt. It had successfully repusled Napoleonic trops.
==20th century to modern day
The castle of Bragança was classified by IPEGAR as a Natioanl Monument by Decvree on 23 June 1910. The General Directorate of National Buildings and Monuments began extensive restoration and reconstruction of the walls. Since 1936, a historic miliatary museum is housed on the premises of the keep.
Characteristics
The castle stands at a height of 800 meters sea level. Site floor plan indicates an ovoid plant with a battlements with a perimiter of 660 meters. The walls are reinforced by fifteen turrets. Walls of two meters thickness surround rhe hitoric core of the city. An d enclose three hectares. The keep hiots the Chuch of Santa Maria and the medieval polory. The main San Antonion port is an round arch betweeen two turrents, and is defended by a barbican.
The walls are constructed using masonry shale rock that is abudnant in the region. It can be found in the corners and every opening. Originally a drawbridge was intended for the door, but has decayed since nad is repalced by a heavy door. On the Southern side of the castle, there exists a gun stone with the coat of Avis house. The top is crowned by battlements with cruzetadas battlements, balconies with boulders, with four cylindrical watchtowers at the corners, dominating the eastern side and the south side, two maineladas Gothic windows. A fence, reinforced by seven turrets (three east, three to the west and south) of circular plan, top the exterior of the tower.
Along the north side of the fence outside, along one of the turrets, there is the call of the Princess Tower, the former palace of the Governor.
Building features residential (tower-fortress), its existence is surrounded by stories, one of the most popular Legend of Princess dwell. In historical times, it is claimed that it was inhabited by Sancha, sister of Afonso Henriques, as a refuge from the marital infidelities committed by her husband Ferdinand Mendes. In it, too, was incarcerated D. Leonor, wife of the fourth Duke of Bragança, D. James, accused (unjustly) of adultery by her own husband. Duke eventually murdering his wife, in Ducal Palace of Vila do Bispo, the stabs, the Nov. 2, 1512.
In the southern sector, a protruding quadrangular is closed by calling Del'Rei Well, sixteenth century structure with the function of defending a cistern.
=The Legend of the Prinmcess Tower
Local tranditions states that when the villeg was still called Benquerença, there was a beautiful orphan princess who lived in her uncle, the lord of the castle. The princess fell in love with a noble brance young knight, but did not have much wealth. For this reason, the young man left the village in search of fortune, promising to return when he felt he had a worthy fortune to ask for her hand. For years, the princess refused all suitors, until her uncle promised her to a firend, forcing her to compromise. When she was presented tot he uncle of her suitor, she confessed that her heart belonged to antoher man. This revelation infuriated her uncle, who thought of a ruse to coerce her to marry the one he chose. At night, he disguised as a ghost, and went through the ports of the Princess quarters, pretending to be the ghsot of her lover, telling her to marr her suitor or otherwise be subject to damnation. As he was about to get an oath from her, the door to her bedroom opened with a bright ray of light, exposing her uncle's treachery. She went to live in the tower and the two windows became known as the Port of Treason and the Port of Light.