Gualdim Pais facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gualdim Pais
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Monument to Dom Gualdim Pais at Tomar, Portugal.
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| Born | 1118 Amares, County of Portugal
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| Died | 13 October 1195 (aged 76–77) Tomar, Kingdom of Portugal
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| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Occupation | Crusader, knight Templar |
Dom Gualdim Pais (born 1118 – died 13 October 1195) was a very important Portuguese knight. He was a Crusader and a member of the Knights Templar. He served King Afonso Henriques of Portugal and is famous for founding the city of Tomar.
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Who Was Gualdim Pais?
Gualdim Pais was born in a town called Amares in 1118. His parents were Paio Ramires and Gontrode Soares. From a young age, he fought alongside King Afonso Henriques. They fought against the Moors, who were Muslim people from North Africa. In 1139, after a big battle called Ourique, Gualdim Pais was made a knight by the King.
Adventures in the Holy Land
Soon after becoming a knight, Gualdim Pais traveled to Palestine. There, he joined the Knights Templar, a group of warrior monks. For five years, he fought bravely as a Templar knight. He played a big part in the siege of Gaza. He also fought in the Siege of Ascalon and in battles around Sidon and Antioch. These fights were part of bigger wars against the rulers of Egypt and Syria.
Leading the Knights Templar in Portugal
In 1157, Gualdim Pais became the fourth Grand Master of the Knights Templar in Portugal. This meant he was the main leader of the Templars in the country. At that time, their main base was in Braga.
Building Castles and Cities
Gualdim Pais decided to move the Templar headquarters. In 1160, he founded the Castle of Tomar near the border with Muslim lands. He then moved the Templar base there. He also oversaw the building of the famous Round Church inside the Tomar Castle. This church was inspired by similar buildings in Jerusalem.
In 1162, he gave a special document called a foral to the town of Tomar. This document set out the rules and rights for the people living there. During his time as Grand Master, he also helped build or fix several other important castles for the Templars. These included the Almourol, Idanha, Ceres, Monsanto, and Pombal. He even founded the settlement of Pombal and gave it a foral in 1174.
Defending Tomar
In 1190, the city of Tomar was attacked. A very large army led by Yusuf I, the King of Morocco, tried to capture it. But Gualdim Pais and his knights fought hard. They managed to defeat the King's forces. This victory was very important because it protected the northern part of the young Kingdom of Portugal.
Later Life and Legacy
Gualdim Pais passed away in Tomar in 1195. His grave is in the Church of Santa Maria do Olival in that city. He is remembered as a brave knight and a great builder who helped shape early Portugal.
Images for kids
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Monument to Dom Gualdim Pais at Tomar, Portugal.
