Castle of Noudar

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The Castle of Noudar, is a Portuguese medieval castle in civil parish of Barrancos, in the municipality of the same name, in the district of Beja.HistoryThe settlement was founded in 1167, but taken from the Moors by Gonçalo Mendes da Maia. Archaeological excavations revealed vestiges of human occupation in the place since the Calcolithic Age, that included the alcazaba and northern spaces. The area between keep tower and residential areas were not occupied during the Moorish period of Islamic occupation.On 6 December 1253, King D. Alfonso X of Castile conceded forals to Noudar, Arouche, Aracena, Moura and Serpa. He would eventually donate all these lands to his daughter D. Beatriz, whom he had marry the defeated King D. Afonso III after his invasion of Portugal. The marriage contract, bound the territory to Portugal, and the lands would be returned to their heirs. During D. Afonso X's battle with his successor, the prince D. Sancho, D. Beatriz placed the lands and forces under the disposal of her father's armies, but they were eventually defeated by partisans loyal to the Infant.Following the 1295 peace treaty between King D. Dinis and King D. Fernando IV, Noudar returned to the crown of Portugal. Quickly, on 16 December 1295, Denis signed a new foral for Noudar, but eventually he would donate the lands to the Order of Aviz, this following his determination that the nuns and master D. Lourenço Afonso promoted the settlement of the region with the construction of a castle, wall and fortress. To further promote settlement along the frontier, on 16 January 1308, King Denis excepted the residences in the town from debts; conceded graces to the Masters of Avis ; and took from them crops of the Commendas of their order; and instituted a couto with royal protection for the next five years. A inscription stone was originally affixed to the tower keep noted that D. Lourenço Afonso, master of the Order of Avis, was ordered by D. Dinis to found the castle and town of Noudar.

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