Macedo de Cavaleiros
Encyclopedia
Macedo de Cavaleiros is a municipality in northeastern Portugal, in Bragança District.
and finally the Arab
forces of the Umayyad Caliphate, who dominated the region until the Christian Reconquista
. The Romans defeated the local hill tribes, and reorganized settlements in the region, influencing local culture and social administration. The territory east of the Tua River, from Mirandela until the confluence of the Douro (which almost represents the district of Bragança) was Romanized, as was all of Iberia. In the 5th century, when the first barbarians invaded from the Pyrenees
, this region, which was part of the Roman province of Gallaecia
, which was administered and judicially subordinate to the religious courts and chancellery of Asturias
. The Roman process of assimilation accelerated after resistance was defeated, and many of the ancient castros
were destroyed or abandoned in favour of the organized settlements in the valleys. The barbarian invasions marked a multi-secular conflict in Iberia, and the land changed hands between rival groups regularly. The Suebi
peoples, who came with the first invaders, founded their kingdom in the northwest part of the peninsula (from their capital in Braga), incorporating the lands of Bragança. Later the Visigoths and Arabs invaded, creating an uninhabited desert of the region, while concentrating their administration in the province of Zamora
.
The name Macedo de Cavaleiros came from a combination of concepts. The first from the Portuguese term for apple , since the region was acclaimed for its fertile lands and apple orchards . It was also associated with the knight , Martim Gonçalves de Macedo, who saved John, the Master of Aviz
during the Battle of Aljubarrota
. During the battle on 14 August 1385, John was attacked by Álvaro Gonçalves de Sandoval, the Castilian striking down the nobleman. Macedo interceded in the conflict, killing the assassin and saving the future King. King John recognized and was grateful to the knight, whose family coat-of-arms after the Battle began to appear with a blue sash and a silver apple.
During the Inquirições (Inquiries or inventory) of King Afonso
, in 1258, the territory of Macedo pertained knights Nuno Martins and Mendes Gonçalves. At the time it was a small settlement, with less importance then its neighbours (Nozelo, Vale Prados, Cortiços, Sezulfe and Pinhovelo), which received their foral
s before Macedo de Cavaleiros. It was after the 14th century, that documents began to refer to Macedo dos Cavaleiros.
Around 1722, King John V designated Macedo as a Quinta, equivalent to a small estate, indicating the size of this region.
The municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros was created in 1853, from the administrative remains of Chacim and Cortiços municipalities, and ten years later the settlement of Macedo was proclaimed a vila (town). To this time, the space were listed as royal lands, then established by John V for the House of Braganza
.
Growth during the 20th century has been the result of immigration, resulting from the expansion of raillines and interlinking of circulatory avenues in the northeast of Portugal. A boom in construction and expansion of services was the result of the return of Colonial troops/citizens that occurred during the middle of the 20th century. As a consequence, the town of Macedo de Cavaleiros was elevated to the status of city in 1999.
, Alfândega da Fé, Mogadouro and Vimioso. It occupies the central part of the district, in a transitional zone between the distinctly different Terra Fria (Cold Lands) and Terra Quente (Hot Lands). The median altitude in the municipality is between 600 and 700 metres, marked in the north by the Serra de Nogueira, in the centre by the Serra de Ala and Serra do Cubo, and in the south by the Serra de Bornes and the Monte de Morais.
initiative, with particular reference to the Morais Massif, considered the "umbigo do mundo" , due to the number of rare plant species. The Morais Massif occupies approximately 12878 hectares (49.7 sq mi); it is serpentine geomorphological space with important geological and biological qualities. The Paisagem Protegida da Albufeira do Azibo (Protected Landscape of the Azibo Dam), is a unique environment: the result of the construction of the Azibo Dam between 1980 and 1982, that has resulted in an area of 4987 hectares (19.3 sq mi): a mixture of both human and natural habitats, that includes species of aquatic and migratory birds. The lake created by the construction of the dam provided conditions for nautical sports, in addition to the creation of two beaches, and later, support facilities for golf, pedestrian trails and bike paths.
, susceptible to lower winter temperatures and warm summers, commonly above 40°C.
Most of the parishes have populations less than 1000 inhabitants, and Morais is the parish with a population greater than 500. Approximately 11,362 inhabitants, or 65.12% of the total population, live in those parishes, while the remaining 34.88% (or more than one-third of the total population) live in the city of Cavaleiros. At the other extreme, the smallest parish by population and population density is Soutelo Mourisco, while the largest parish by area is Morais (the smallest: Santa Combinha). The city of Macedo de Cavaleiros has a population of 6,844.
, at a time when the local population was less than 900 inhabitants.
History
During antiquity, the region was occupied by the Celts, then RomansAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
and finally the Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
forces of the Umayyad Caliphate, who dominated the region until the Christian Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
. The Romans defeated the local hill tribes, and reorganized settlements in the region, influencing local culture and social administration. The territory east of the Tua River, from Mirandela until the confluence of the Douro (which almost represents the district of Bragança) was Romanized, as was all of Iberia. In the 5th century, when the first barbarians invaded from the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, this region, which was part of the Roman province of Gallaecia
Gallaecia
Gallaecia or Callaecia, also known as Hispania Gallaecia, was the name of a Roman province and an early Mediaeval kingdom that comprised a territory in the north-west of Hispania...
, which was administered and judicially subordinate to the religious courts and chancellery of Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
. The Roman process of assimilation accelerated after resistance was defeated, and many of the ancient castros
Castro culture
Castro culture is the archaeological term for naming the Celtic archaeological culture of the northwestern regions of the Iberian Peninsula from the end of the Bronze Age until it was subsumed in local Roman culture...
were destroyed or abandoned in favour of the organized settlements in the valleys. The barbarian invasions marked a multi-secular conflict in Iberia, and the land changed hands between rival groups regularly. The Suebi
Suebi
The Suebi or Suevi were a group of Germanic peoples who were first mentioned by Julius Caesar in connection with Ariovistus' campaign, c...
peoples, who came with the first invaders, founded their kingdom in the northwest part of the peninsula (from their capital in Braga), incorporating the lands of Bragança. Later the Visigoths and Arabs invaded, creating an uninhabited desert of the region, while concentrating their administration in the province of Zamora
Zamora (province)
Zamora is a Spanish province of western Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Castile and León.The present-day province of Zamora province was one of three provinces formed from the former Kingdom of León in 1833, when Spain was re-organised into 49 provinces.It is bordered by...
.
The name Macedo de Cavaleiros came from a combination of concepts. The first from the Portuguese term for apple , since the region was acclaimed for its fertile lands and apple orchards . It was also associated with the knight , Martim Gonçalves de Macedo, who saved John, the Master of Aviz
House of Aviz
The House of Aviz is a dynasty of kings of Portugal. In 1385, the Interregnum of the 1383-1385 crisis ended with the acclamation of the Master of the Order of Aviz, John, natural son of king Peter I and Dona Teresa Lourenço as king...
during the Battle of Aljubarrota
Battle of Aljubarrota
The Battle of Aljubarrota was a battle fought between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Crown of Castile on 14 August 1385. Forces commanded by King John I of Portugal and his general Nuno Álvares Pereira, with the support of English allies, opposed the army of King John I of Castile with its...
. During the battle on 14 August 1385, John was attacked by Álvaro Gonçalves de Sandoval, the Castilian striking down the nobleman. Macedo interceded in the conflict, killing the assassin and saving the future King. King John recognized and was grateful to the knight, whose family coat-of-arms after the Battle began to appear with a blue sash and a silver apple.
During the Inquirições (Inquiries or inventory) of King Afonso
Afonso III of Portugal
Afonso III , or Affonso , Alfonso or Alphonso or Alphonsus , the Bolognian , the fifth King of Portugal and the first to use the title King of Portugal and the Algarve, from 1249...
, in 1258, the territory of Macedo pertained knights Nuno Martins and Mendes Gonçalves. At the time it was a small settlement, with less importance then its neighbours (Nozelo, Vale Prados, Cortiços, Sezulfe and Pinhovelo), which received their foral
Foral
thumb|left|200px|Foral of Castro Verde - PortugalThe word foral derives from the Portuguese word foro, ultimately from Latin forum, equivalent to Spanish fuero, Galician foro, Catalan furs and Basque foru ....
s before Macedo de Cavaleiros. It was after the 14th century, that documents began to refer to Macedo dos Cavaleiros.
Around 1722, King John V designated Macedo as a Quinta, equivalent to a small estate, indicating the size of this region.
The municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros was created in 1853, from the administrative remains of Chacim and Cortiços municipalities, and ten years later the settlement of Macedo was proclaimed a vila (town). To this time, the space were listed as royal lands, then established by John V for the House of Braganza
House of Braganza
The Most Serene House of Braganza , an important Portuguese noble family, ruled the Kingdom of Portugal and its colonial Empire, from 1640 to 1910...
.
Growth during the 20th century has been the result of immigration, resulting from the expansion of raillines and interlinking of circulatory avenues in the northeast of Portugal. A boom in construction and expansion of services was the result of the return of Colonial troops/citizens that occurred during the middle of the 20th century. As a consequence, the town of Macedo de Cavaleiros was elevated to the status of city in 1999.
Geography
Physical geography
The municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros is situated in the northeast region of the Trás-os-Montes, within the district of Bragança, limited by the neighbouring administrations of Bragança, Vinhais, MirandelaMirandela Municipality
Mirandela is a municipality of 25,780 inhabitants, in the northeast corner of Portugal.-History:The settlements of Mirandela date back to the pre-historical period, but primarily relate to a period of Roman occupation. During this era, the main settlement of Mirandela was a Roman civitas, known...
, Alfândega da Fé, Mogadouro and Vimioso. It occupies the central part of the district, in a transitional zone between the distinctly different Terra Fria (Cold Lands) and Terra Quente (Hot Lands). The median altitude in the municipality is between 600 and 700 metres, marked in the north by the Serra de Nogueira, in the centre by the Serra de Ala and Serra do Cubo, and in the south by the Serra de Bornes and the Monte de Morais.
Ecoregion/Protected areas
A vast part of the municipality (24.4%) is incorporated within the Natura 2000Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas in the territory of the European Union.-Origins:In May 1992, the governments of the European Communities adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. This legislation is called the...
initiative, with particular reference to the Morais Massif, considered the "umbigo do mundo" , due to the number of rare plant species. The Morais Massif occupies approximately 12878 hectares (49.7 sq mi); it is serpentine geomorphological space with important geological and biological qualities. The Paisagem Protegida da Albufeira do Azibo (Protected Landscape of the Azibo Dam), is a unique environment: the result of the construction of the Azibo Dam between 1980 and 1982, that has resulted in an area of 4987 hectares (19.3 sq mi): a mixture of both human and natural habitats, that includes species of aquatic and migratory birds. The lake created by the construction of the dam provided conditions for nautical sports, in addition to the creation of two beaches, and later, support facilities for golf, pedestrian trails and bike paths.
Climate
The municipality is divided into two climatic regions: Terra Fria (Cold Lands), to the north, an area of cold winters and hot dry summers; and the southern part of the municipality, referred to as Terra Quente , between the Sabor River and the municipality of MirandelaMirandela Municipality
Mirandela is a municipality of 25,780 inhabitants, in the northeast corner of Portugal.-History:The settlements of Mirandela date back to the pre-historical period, but primarily relate to a period of Roman occupation. During this era, the main settlement of Mirandela was a Roman civitas, known...
, susceptible to lower winter temperatures and warm summers, commonly above 40°C.
Human geography
The municipality is composed of 38 parishes with a total population of 17,210.
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Vilar do Monte (Macedo de Cavaleiros) Vilar do Monte is a Portuguese parish located in the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros. It has a population of 142 inhabitants and a total area of 6.23 km².... |
Demographics
Most of the parishes have populations less than 1000 inhabitants, and Morais is the parish with a population greater than 500. Approximately 11,362 inhabitants, or 65.12% of the total population, live in those parishes, while the remaining 34.88% (or more than one-third of the total population) live in the city of Cavaleiros. At the other extreme, the smallest parish by population and population density is Soutelo Mourisco, while the largest parish by area is Morais (the smallest: Santa Combinha). The city of Macedo de Cavaleiros has a population of 6,844.
Economy
The tertiary represents 58% of the economic activity in this territory; secondary activities, localized mostly in the industrial zone of the city, represent 22% of the activities of the region. Similarly, agricultural production (21% of the workforce are farmers), is involved in cultivation and animal husbandry. The climatic conditions in the region, and the fertility of its soils has allowed the cultivation and production of wine, cereals, olive and chestnut oils, in addition to the raising of cattle, sheep and goats in many of its fields.Religion
The Roman Catholic faith community is integrated into the Diocese of Bragança and Miranda. Originally, the episcopal seat was located in Miranda do DouroMiranda do Douro Municipality
Miranda do Douro is a municipality covering an area of 487.17 km², with a population of approximately 7,707 inhabitants in the northeast corner of Portugal. Referred to as the "Cidade Museu" of the Trás-os-Montes region, it is located 86 kilometres from the district capital, preserving many...
, at a time when the local population was less than 900 inhabitants.