Mirandela Municipality
Encyclopedia
Mirandela is a municipality of 25,780 inhabitants, in the northeast corner of Portugal.
, known then as Caladunum. There are abundant vestiges of the Roman occupation in Castelo Velho, São Martinho, Mourel and Prado Pequeno, that include copper coins from the reign of Emperor Tiberius
. At this time the civitas was located in the region of São Martinho, but there are conflicting references as to the location of the main settlement, and when it was moved.
Ernesto de Sales, referenced three documents that localized the Christian village near São Martinho (even as another document in 1258 disputed the existence of the village of Mirandela in or near this region):
It is clear, from the documents of King Denis
, at the time when he was elaborating the defenses of the city of Guarda (2 September 1282), the transfer of the town of Mirandela to hilltop of mount São Miguel (where a small hermitage chapel existed at the time) had likely already occurred. This location was easily defendable and dominated the view of the fertile lands and river access.
King Afonso III
granted a foral
(charter) on 25 May 1250. The magistrate of Mirandela at the time governed a region that included Torre de D. Chama, Frechas, Sesulfe, Nozelos, Vilas Boas, Vale de Asnes and Cortiços.
This document was expanded and elaborated by King Denis of Portugal
, when he issued an updated foral on 7 March 1291, that also stipulated that every villager, who was able to do so, contribute a horse and arms and annual stipend on São Miguel day, in September. King Denis also ordered the construction of protective walls around the main settlement and keep
to support military needs. By the beginning of the 16th century, there were no remnants of a castle or walls. The castle was then describe as having three gates (Santo António, Santiago and Portela) and small doorway (São José), in addition to a traitors-gate near Quebra-Costas. It also included battlements and interior keep, near the prison block, that served as the royal residence, on his return.
The Távora
family was donated Mirandela around 1301, when King Denis signed over its title to Branca Lourenço, remaining in this hereditary clan until Francisco de Assis de Távora (1721-1759).
The new foral later outlined the geographic divisions of the municipality. Between 1530 and 1835, the municipality of Mirandela included the following 44 places and 9 estates: Abambres, Ala, Alvites, Avantes, Brinço, Cabanelas, Caravelas, Carvalhais, Cedães, Cedainhos, Chelas, Contins, Freixeda, Mascarenhas, Miradeses, Mirandela, Pousadas, Quintas, São Salvados, Val de Lobo, Val de Salgueiro, Valtelhas, Vila Nova, Vila Verde and Vilar de Ledra. Similarly, between 1512 and 1871, the region underwent a series of territorial divisions that included the creation (and eventual suppression) of the municipalities of Torre de Chama, Frechas, Vale de Asnes, Abreiro, Lamas de Orelhão. Torre de Chama would be the most discontinuous: it was created 1287 by King Denis, but suppressed in 12 September, later to be resuscitated on 4 May 1512 by King Manuel
, and then extinguished in 1855. A royal decree on 18 July 1835, preceded another territorial division that caused the elimination of various parishes and municipalities: Mirandela was left with 40 parishes (that included Cedainhos and Vale da Sancha). By 1884, the municipality of Mirandela had the established geographic boundaries.
The town of Mirandela was elevated to the status of city on 28 June 1984.
The municipality is composed of 37 civil parishes and is located in the district of Bragança
. It is bordered by the municipalities of Murça
, Valpaços
, Vinhais
, Bragança, Macedo de Cavaleiros
, Vila Flor
and Carrazeda de Ansiães
.
It contains the city of Mirandela
.
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 civitasCivitas
In the history of Rome, the Latin term civitas , according to Cicero in the time of the late Roman Republic, was the social body of the cives, or citizens, united by law . It is the law that binds them together, giving them responsibilities on the one hand and rights of citizenship on the other...
, known then as Caladunum. There are abundant vestiges of the Roman occupation in Castelo Velho, São Martinho, Mourel and Prado Pequeno, that include copper coins from the reign of Emperor Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
. At this time the civitas was located in the region of São Martinho, but there are conflicting references as to the location of the main settlement, and when it was moved.
Ernesto de Sales, referenced three documents that localized the Christian village near São Martinho (even as another document in 1258 disputed the existence of the village of Mirandela in or near this region):
- a charter, written by King Sancho ISancho I of PortugalSancho I , nicknamed the Populator , second monarch of Portugal, was born on 11 November 1154 in Coimbra and died on 26 March 1212 in the same city. He was the second but only surviving legitimate son and fourth child of Afonso I of Portugal by his wife, Maud of Savoy. Sancho succeeded his father...
to Garcia Mendes, in 1198, to a location in Vilar de Maçada; - a charter, written by King Afonso IIIAfonso III of PortugalAfonso 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...
conceded on 25 May 1250 to Mirandela; and - a receipt made by notary in Mirandela, on 27 March 1275.
It is clear, from the documents of King Denis
Denis of Portugal
Dinis , called the Farmer King , was the sixth King of Portugal and the Algarve. The eldest son of Afonso III of Portugal by his second wife, Beatrice of Castile and grandson of king Alfonso X of Castile , Dinis succeeded his father in 1279.-Biography:As heir to the throne, Infante Dinis was...
, at the time when he was elaborating the defenses of the city of Guarda (2 September 1282), the transfer of the town of Mirandela to hilltop of mount São Miguel (where a small hermitage chapel existed at the time) had likely already occurred. This location was easily defendable and dominated the view of the fertile lands and river access.
King Afonso III
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...
granted a 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 ....
(charter) on 25 May 1250. The magistrate of Mirandela at the time governed a region that included Torre de D. Chama, Frechas, Sesulfe, Nozelos, Vilas Boas, Vale de Asnes and Cortiços.
This document was expanded and elaborated by King Denis of Portugal
Denis of Portugal
Dinis , called the Farmer King , was the sixth King of Portugal and the Algarve. The eldest son of Afonso III of Portugal by his second wife, Beatrice of Castile and grandson of king Alfonso X of Castile , Dinis succeeded his father in 1279.-Biography:As heir to the throne, Infante Dinis was...
, when he issued an updated foral on 7 March 1291, that also stipulated that every villager, who was able to do so, contribute a horse and arms and annual stipend on São Miguel day, in September. King Denis also ordered the construction of protective walls around the main settlement and keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
to support military needs. By the beginning of the 16th century, there were no remnants of a castle or walls. The castle was then describe as having three gates (Santo António, Santiago and Portela) and small doorway (São José), in addition to a traitors-gate near Quebra-Costas. It also included battlements and interior keep, near the prison block, that served as the royal residence, on his return.
The Távora
Marquis of Tavora
Count of São João da Pesqueira was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree, dated from 21 March 1611, by King Philip II of Portugal , and granted to Dom Luís Álvares de Távora, Lord of Távora.In the 17th century this family received new honours: a royal decree of King Afonso VI of...
family was donated Mirandela around 1301, when King Denis signed over its title to Branca Lourenço, remaining in this hereditary clan until Francisco de Assis de Távora (1721-1759).
The new foral later outlined the geographic divisions of the municipality. Between 1530 and 1835, the municipality of Mirandela included the following 44 places and 9 estates: Abambres, Ala, Alvites, Avantes, Brinço, Cabanelas, Caravelas, Carvalhais, Cedães, Cedainhos, Chelas, Contins, Freixeda, Mascarenhas, Miradeses, Mirandela, Pousadas, Quintas, São Salvados, Val de Lobo, Val de Salgueiro, Valtelhas, Vila Nova, Vila Verde and Vilar de Ledra. Similarly, between 1512 and 1871, the region underwent a series of territorial divisions that included the creation (and eventual suppression) of the municipalities of Torre de Chama, Frechas, Vale de Asnes, Abreiro, Lamas de Orelhão. Torre de Chama would be the most discontinuous: it was created 1287 by King Denis, but suppressed in 12 September, later to be resuscitated on 4 May 1512 by King Manuel
Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...
, and then extinguished in 1855. A royal decree on 18 July 1835, preceded another territorial division that caused the elimination of various parishes and municipalities: Mirandela was left with 40 parishes (that included Cedainhos and Vale da Sancha). By 1884, the municipality of Mirandela had the established geographic boundaries.
The town of Mirandela was elevated to the status of city on 28 June 1984.
Geography
The municipality is composed of 37 civil parishes and is located in the district of Bragança
Bragança (district)
Bragança District is a traditional political division of Portugal, in the northeast corner bordering on Spain, covering 7.4% of the nations continental landmass. The capital of the district, Bragança, is 217 kilometres from Porto, the second largest town in Portugal, and 107 kilometres and 169...
. It is bordered by the municipalities of Murça
Murça
Murça is a municipality in norhern Portugal with a total area of 189.37 and a total population of 6,476 inhabitants. Situated in the central part of the eastern district of Vila Real, and consigned to the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro region, the municipality of Murça occupies an are of...
, Valpaços
Valpaços
Valpaços is a municipality in northern Portugal with a total area of 548.74 km² and a total population of 19,154 inhabitants.-History:The first documents that cite Valpaços date back to the 12th century...
, Vinhais
Vinhais
Vinhais is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 694.9 km² and a total population of 10,051 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 35 parishes and is located in the district of Bragança....
, Bragança, Macedo de Cavaleiros
Macedo de Cavaleiros
Macedo de Cavaleiros is a municipality in northeastern Portugal, in Bragança District.-History:During antiquity, the region was occupied by the Celts, then Romans and finally the Arab forces of the Umayyad Caliphate, who dominated the region until the Christian Reconquista...
, Vila Flor
Vila Flor
Vila Flor is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 265.8 km² and a total population of 7,737 inhabitants .The municipality is composed of 19 parishes and is located in the district of Bragança....
and Carrazeda de Ansiães
Carrazeda de Ansiães
Carrazeda de Ansiães is a municipality in northern Portugal with a total area of 279.3 km² and a total population of 7,220 inhabitants.-History:...
.
- Abambres
- Abreiro
- Aguieiras
- Alvites
- Avantos
- Avidagos
- Barcel
- Bouça
- Cabanelas
- Caravelas
- Carvalhais
- Cedães
- Cobro
- Fradizela
- Franco
- FrechasFrechasFrechas is a Portuguese civil parish, located in the municipality of Mirandela, in the district of Bragança. In 2001 its population was 1137 inhabitants located in an area of approximately 18.54 km² in the Transmontanan community.-History:Its early settlement is still clouded in a lack of...
- Freixeda
- Lamas de Orelhão
- Marmelos
- Mascarenhas
- Mirandela
- Múrias
- Navalho
- Passos
- Pereira
- Romeu
- São Pedro Velho
- São Salvador
- Suçães
- Torre de Dona ChamaTorre de Dona ChamaTorre de Dona Chama is a Portuguese civil parish in the municipality and district of Bragança, in the Trás-os-Montes region of northern Portugal...
- Vale de Asnes
- Vale de GouvinhasVale de GouvinhasThe village Vale de Gouvinhas is situated in a valley on the right bank of the river Tuela in the town of Mirandela, which lies at 20 km. It borders the villages Abambres , Vale de Telhas , Bouça and Cabanelas...
- Vale de Salgueiro
- Vale de Telhas
- Valverde
- Vila Boa
- Vila Verde
It contains the city of Mirandela
Mirandela
Mirandela is a city in Mirandela Municipality in northern Portugal. The city itself has a population of about 15 000.Mirandela is famous for its cuisine, particularly the alheiras. Mirandela is becoming a popular tourist destination in northeastern Portugal. One of its four bridges on the Tua...
.