Castelo de Santiago do Cacém facts for kids
The Castelo de Santiago do Cacém is an old castle located in the town of Santiago do Cacém, Portugal. It's considered a very important historical site and is known as a national monument.
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History of the Castle
People have lived in the area where the castle stands for a very long time, even since the time of Celtic tribes. When the Romans took over the Iberian Peninsula (which is now Spain and Portugal), the village was called Mirobriga. It was part of a larger Roman area called Pax Julia, which is now the city of Beja.
Around the early 400s, a group called the Alans lived in the village. But then, in the 500s, everyone moved to a new hill closer to the sea. This new village was later ruled by the Visigoths. Then, in 712, the Moors took control, and they called the village Kassen.
The Medieval Castle's Story
The Moors were the ones who built the castle we see today. During a time called the Reconquista, when Christian kingdoms were taking back land from the Moors in the Iberian Peninsula, Santiago do Cacém was captured for the first time in 1157. This happened when the forces of Afonso I of Portugal, who was the King of Portugal, took over a nearby city called Alcácer do Sal.
However, the Almohad ruler, Abu Yusuf Ya'qub al-Mansur, took the city back in 1190–1191.
In 1186, King Sancho I of Portugal gave control of some towns, including Almada and Palmela, to the Order of Santiago. This was an order of warrior monks. Alcácer do Sal stayed under Moorish control until 1217. In that year, during the rule of King Afonso II of Portugal, Cacém finally became a permanent part of Portugal. The castle and land were given to the knights of the Order of Santiago, who were tasked with rebuilding its defenses. From this time on, the village became known as Santiago do Cacém. It also received its first charter, which was an important document giving it special rights.
Later, during the reign of King Denis of Portugal, the castle was owned by Vataça Lascaris, who was a close friend of the Queen. But between 1315 and 1336, the castle was given back to the Order of Santiago.
During a big crisis in Portugal from 1383 to 1385, Santiago do Cacém was one of the first towns to support John I of Portugal, who became the new king. This was because the Master of Santiago, Fernando Afonso de Albuquerque, used all the Order's resources to help him.
In 1512, King Manuel I of Portugal had a new important document, the Foral Novo, written for the town. This document tells us a lot about the local economy and society back then.
During the time when Spain ruled Portugal (called the Philippine Dynasty), King Philip I of Portugal gave the castle to the dukes of Aveiro in 1594.
From War to Restoration
After the Portuguese Restoration War in the 1600s, the town became less important for military reasons. The castle and its lands were returned to the control of the Portuguese crown in 1759. Over time, the old castle was slowly left to ruin. In the 1800s, the castle grounds were even used as the town's cemetery.
On June 23, 1910, the castle was officially declared a national monument. This means it's protected and recognized as a very important historical site. More recently, a Portuguese government group called DGEMN has helped fund projects to restore and fix up the castle.
What the Castle Looks Like
Santiago do Cacém Castle Features
The castle has a shape that is almost like a rectangle. You can still see parts of the original walls built by the Moors. The castle walls and their battlements (the parts with gaps for defense) were made stronger with ten square towers and round turrets. Outside these, there was an extra defensive wall called a barbican, which also had turrets.
The old church of Santiago is built right into the southeast part of the castle wall. Inside the church, you can see old Romanesque and Gothic styles, mixed with newer designs. There are carvings inside the church that show Saint James fighting the Moors. On the south entrance, you can also see carvings of animals, which are called zoomorphic designs.
This part of the medieval fortress still has pieces of the very first castle that was built there.
Castle Legends
Castles often have exciting stories and legends connected to them. Here are two famous ones about Santiago do Cacém Castle:
The Legend of How the Castle Was Built
Long ago, when the Moors lived here, the Lord of the region was a very rich man with three children: two sons and one daughter. As he grew old and felt his life ending, he called his children to him. He told them he wanted to share his wealth fairly among them.
His oldest son chose the lands he wanted, and the second son did the same with what was left. There was still a lot of land and wealth for the daughter. The old father asked her if she was happy with what remained. She replied, "Yes, father. But I don't want property. I think it's more important for us to have a castle to defend ourselves. So, I only want the bare land that can be covered by this ox-hide."
Her father and brothers were amazed! She then showed them an ox-hide and began cutting it into very thin strips. She used these strips to mark the edge of the area she wanted. For three days, a thick fog covered the land. When the fog lifted, everyone saw, as if by magic, the Castle of Santiago do Cacém standing there! (This story is from Suplemento Litoral Alentejano, December 1998).
The Legend of the Byzantine Princess
Another story tells of a brave princess named Bataça Lascaris (also known as Vataça Lascaris). She came from the eastern Mediterranean Sea with a group of armed soldiers. She landed her ships at a place called Sines. From there, she marched south and attacked a Moorish settlement ruled by a man named Kassen.
The princess fought Kassen in a big battle and defeated him at the castle of Santiago on July 25th. Because of this victory, the town became known as Santiago de Kassen. (This story is from Júlio Gil, Os Mais Belos Castelos de Portugal).
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Santiago do Cacém para niños
