Castle of Vila Verde dos Francos

The Castle of Vila Verde dos Francos (Portuguese: Castelo de Vila Verde dos Francos) is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Vila Verde dos Francos, municipality of Alenquer, Portuguese district of Lisbon.

History

Early History

The early human occupation of the region dates back to prehistoric times, as the archaeological evidence attesting have been successively visited and occupied over the centuries by people Greeks, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Goths and Muslims.

Medieval era

In the context of the Christian reconquest of the Iberian peninsula, the origin of the village is linked to a donation of the land and resources by King Afonso Henriques (1112-1185) to a group of crusaders following the conquest of Lisbon, Sintra, Almada, Palmela and Alenquer. It is believed that in 1160 the king granted a Foral Charter to the village. The recipient of the donation letter would have been D. Alardo, one of the captains who stood out in the Siege of Lisbon (1147). The classical Portuguese historiography ascribes the building of the castle to own D. Alardo, information that requires documentary evidence, and even proper archaeological survey.