Castle of Monsanto: Difference between revisions

| name = Castle of Monsanto

| native_nameensign = Castelo de Monsanto

| other_name ensign_size =

| categorynative_name = Castelo de = [[Castle]]Monsanto

| native_categorytype = CasteloCastle

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| image = Aerial view of the =Monsanto CasteloCastle ein muralhasa foggy morning, Aldeia de Monsanto, Portugal IIjulesvernex2.jpg

| image_sizecaption = Aerial =view of the Castle of 235Monsanto.

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| official_nameimage_map = Castelo e Muralhas de Monsanto=

| etymology map_caption = Location of the castle within the municipality of [[Monsanto]]

| etymology_typepushpin_map = Named for =

| nickname pushpin_relief =

<!-- *** Country ***location -->

| country partof = {{flag|Portugal}}

| region_typecountry = Subregion[[Portugal]]

| municipalityoperator = [[Monsanto e Idanha-a-NovaVelha|Junta de Freguesia de Monsanto]] (ceded on 10 March 1949)

| location site_area = [[Monsanto e Idanha-a-Velha]]

| elevationbuilt = 12th century

| prominenceused =

| lat_d builder =

| lat_mmaterials = Granite, = Masonry

| lat_s height =

| lat_NS length = N

| long_d fate =

| long_m condition =

| long_s battles =

| long_EW events = W

| length occupants =

| width footnotes =

The '''Castle of Monsanto''' ({{lang-langx|pt|Castelo de Monsanto}}) is a [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[castle]] located in the [[Freguesia (Portugal)|civil parish]] of [[Monsanto e Idanha-a-Velha]], in the [[Concelho|municipality]] of [[Idanha-a-Nova]], [[Portugal|Portuguese]] [[Castelo Branco (district)|district of Castelo Branco]].

The site was likely the location of fortified settlement during prehistory.<ref name="SIPA">{{cite web |url=http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=3930 |title=Castelo e Muralhas de Monsanto (IPA.00003930/PT020505080009) |first=Margarida |last=Conceição |first2=Augusto |last2=Costa |year=1998 |accessdate=29 November 2016}}</ref> Legend suggests that during the 2nd century a [[Castro culture|castro]] was taken and colonized on the hilltop of Mons Sanctus, by [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[Praetor]] LúcioLucius EmílioAemilius PauloPaullus. The castro was destroyed and progressively settled by settlers from Idanha-a-Velha.<ref name=SIPA/>

In order to buildingbuild a defensive line and strengthen his presence in the region, D. [[Afonso HenriquesI of Portugal]] donated the area to D. [[Gualdim Pais]], Master of the [[Knights Templars|Templars]]; a vast region, that extended to the territory of Egitânea (corresponding to [[Idanha-a-Velha]]) along the [[Erges RiveerRiver|Rio Erges]].<ref name=SIPA/>

:''"AlfonsoAfonso, remarkable king of the Portuguese" (Portugalensium rex)", son of [[Henry, Count of Portugal|Henry]] and Queen D. [[Teresa of León, Countess of Portugal|Teresa]] and grandson of the great and illustrious Emperor of Hispania, for us to master Galdino and all the brothers of the Knights Templar who are in my kingdom, I make a wide and giving very strong in the region of Idanha [-a-Velha] and Monsanto with the limits: Following the course of the river and between Erges my kingdom and the 'legions' to enter the [river] [[Tagus]] and the other party following the course of water [river] [[Zêzere River]] which also enters the river Tagus (...). ''" (Letter of Donation on 30 November 30, 1165.)

A contemporary castle was constructed during the 13th century.<ref name=SIPA/>

It was reconstructed in the 14th century, during the reigns of King D. [[Denis of Portugal|Dinis]] and D. [[Ferdinand I of Portugal|Fernando]].<ref name=SIPA/>

But, following its alignment with the Kingdom of Castile during the Dynastic[[1383–1385 CrisisPortuguese of 1383-1385interregnum]], the site began to fall into disorder.<ref name=SIPA/> According to the chronicler [[Fernão Lopes]], Monsanto was a village that had been loyal to [[Beatrice of Portugal|Queen Beatrice]]. But, later however, Lopes listed the town among those aligned themselves with D. [[John I of Portugal|John]] by 1384. Beginning in the 1476, the area was reconstructed during the reign of King D. [[John I of Portugal|John I]], resulting in the construction of a barbican and protection over the well, a large {{convert|15|m|ft}} chamber that belonged to the Castro family (later identified as providing abundant water for the site).<ref name=SIPA/> By 1496, the ''[[Inquirições|Inquirição]]'' (''Inquiries'') indicated 309 inhabitants.<ref name=SIPA/>

In the second- half of the 17th century, the structures were adapted to support artillery, with the construction of earthenworks, batteries and canon emplacements, as well as fortification walls for the colony.<ref name=SIPA/> This followed the 1704 siege by Franco-Spanish forces, under the command of the Irish [[James FitzJames, 1st Duke of BerwichBerwick|Duke of Berwick]], but later liberated by the [[António Luís de Sousa, 2nd Marquis of Minas|Marquess of Minas]].<ref name=SIPA/> By 1758, surveys of the site indicated one of the towers in ruin. Reconstruction of the fortification walls were undertaken by order of [[William, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe]] following the [[Spanish invasion of Portugal (1762)|Spanish invasion of Portugal]].<ref name=SIPA/> Similar alterations were built in 1801, a slope was established in order to implant canons.<ref name=SIPA/>

AAn 1831 collapse of a cliff resulted in the destruction of an exterior wall and a time when the Chapel of Santa Maria was in a state of ruin. Meanwhile, the Church of São Miguel continued to be open to the cult as late as 1834.<ref name=SIPA/>

The first work on repairing or conserving the site began in 1940, when the DGEMN ''Direção-Geral de Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais'' (''Directorate-General of Buildings and National Monuments'') began restoration of the walls, detailed excavations on site and removal of topsoil. In the following two years, the work continued with consolidation of the walls and granite, construction and placement of masonry.<ref name=SIPA/> Between 1957 and 1958, further work began that included further repairs to the walls, reconstruction of the towers and reinforcement of the ashlar stones.<ref name=SIPA/>

In 1986, complimentarycomplementary work continued in the castle area that included repairing loose ashlars and consolidation of the pavement along the adarve in the west.<ref name=SIPA/> Between 1988 and 1989, there werewas work on consolidating the walls and pavements, the adarve and accessways to the castle.<ref name=SIPA/> Much of the archaeological artefacts extracted from Monsanto were dispersed throughout various museums, among which were the Museum Francisco Tavares Proença Júnior in Castelo Branco.<ref name=SIPA/>

[[File:CasteloAerial view of the Monsanto Castle at sunset, Aldeia de Monsanto, (3)Portugal julesvernex2.jpg|thumb|235px|The aerial view fromof the accessway to the castle]]

The castle was located in aan urban-rural contextlocation, in an area that marks the territory, on a hilltop that is {{convert|763|m|ft}} above sea level, situated on the right margin of the Rio Ponsul and overlooking the urban nucleus and parish of São Salvador. The site dominates the plains that extend to the ''Serra da Gardunha'' (in the west) , [[Idanha-a-Velha|Idanha]] and reservoir.<ref name=SIPA/> Within its walls is the [[Chapel of Santa Maria do Castelo (Monsanto)|Chapel of Santa Maria do Castelo]], the ruins of the Chapel of São João and Romanesque Church of São Miguel, vestiges of the old settlement, and several telecommunication towers. Surrounding this are several tombs and carved openings in the rock faces, an area characterized by granite outcroppings and abrupt cliff faces.<ref name=SIPA/> In the east, is a lookout to the eastern frontier, with the south and southeast overlooking the valleys of Ponsol and Aravil, in addition to the ''Cerro da Cardoza''.<ref name=SIPA/> In the north is the ''Serra da Estrela'' (Portugal's tallest continental mountain range) and views of the [[Castle of Penamacor]] and [[Castle of Belmonte (Belmonte)]].<ref name=SIPA/>

The enclosure includes four towers attached on the outer side of the walls. Two have rectangular plans and are devoid of spans, in the north; an identical tower on the east; and a square-shaped tower on the south, with access via a flight of stairs perpendicular to the adarve, presenting a straight lintel doorway in the northern elevation. Inside the enclosure is a cistern next to a cliff, presenting two full arches and absence of cover.<ref name=SIPA/>

The walled enclosure, adjacent to the main entrance, features a rectangular outline and a full arch door inserted in the south section, that includes battery with four canon emplacements, equipped with two ramps.<ref name=SIPA/> Inserted into the western side is an irregular oblong segment with full arched door and protrusions that integrates a square-shaped tower on the exterior.<ref name=SIPA/> A geodetic marker is situated over this segment. From this enclosure are rocky outcroppings with grooves and rubble corresponding to the foundations of other towers and missing wall segments.<ref name=SIPA/>

The ''Torre do Pião'' is located outside the walls, in an elevation bordering the castle, overlooking the ruins of the Church of São Miguel.<ref name=SIPA/> A square plan, only part of the walls corresponding to the first incomplete register are visible.<ref name=SIPA/>

Defensive structures of São Salvador include the Gates of Santo António and Espírito Santo, the so-called bulwark or battery and wall section annexed to the Chapel of Santo António and cemetery.<ref name=SIPA/> The Gate of Santo António, faces the west, and includes a straight lintel integrating laterally three gaps, surmounted by the royal coat-of-arms and topped by small parapet. Addorsed to the gate is a square guard tower covered in stonework, with door of straight lintel in the east.<ref name=SIPA/> The Gate of Espírito Santo is oriented in a full arch on the outside and a straight lintel on the inner side, flanked by two gaps, with an attached guard post partially covered, with door and lintel in the west, as well as cracks in the north and east.<ref name=SIPA/> The battery over the parking area, in ''Largo do Baluarte'', is trapezoidal, with curtain walls over the escarpment, with door and flanked by two rectangular windows in the west.<ref name=SIPA/>

Near the chapel are three trapezoidal tombs and a group of anthropomorphic excavations in the isolated rocks.<ref name=SIPA/> The ruins of the Chapel of São João includes a perfect arch and is isolated in tehthe eastern flank of the castle.<ref name=SIPA/>

[[Category:National monuments in PortugalCastelo Branco District|Castle Monsanto]]

[[Category:Idanha-a-Velha|Castle Monsanto]]