ELVAS MÉDIÉVAL CITY
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The origins of the city go back to Celts and Romans, who could have in the hill that her dominates small accessions. Of the invasions of Europa's north, specially visigodos you upset they have found remains. With the invasions of the north of Africa the city was occupied and strengthened being probably fastened from the foundation of Badajoz, to the authority of that population.

With the foundation of the County Portugalense and the posterior creation of the Kingdom of Portugal, the advance of the Reconquest towards the south was kept unstoppable. Being the year 1166, the king D. Afonso Henriquez takes the city as the first time to the Muslims, who from the from Badajoz capital recover her little later. Three years later the conquest again, of Gerando Sem's hand Povor. From there the bellicose Portuguese commander, she attacks for surprise Badajoz, which was tributary of León.

Already inside the population and before the arrival of the from Leon ones, the king Alfonso Enriquez has an accident in his exit precipitated of the city, being struck with a door, falling down injured man and becoming a prisoner by the king from Leon. Lost again Elvas in the year 1200, D. Sancho I the conquest by another short period of time, until On July 8, 1226, D. Sancho II, the capture of definitive form raising on previous Moslem remains the castle that dominates the city.
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The city was achieving progressively importance and exceeding diverse lines of walls that were defending her for his frontier quality. In 1200 San Pedro's church gets up and the same century that of every sunday. During the reign of D. Dionysus I new jurisdictions are granted to him and Elvas you reinforce his defenses providing them with new towers and matacanes. It was always an aim desired of Castile, which in many occasions tried his possession, along the history, without never being able to fulfill this lens.

The successive Lusitanian monarches her strengthened with the walls seiscientistas, turning the city into top of lance against Castile. During the reign of D. Fernando I, the city exceeds the limits of the walled enclosure and the king orders to raise a new fortification with 22 towers and 10 doors. It is a question of the enclosure Fernandino on part(report) of which I raise the fortification abaluartada. There was raised in nearness of the Paços of the Council, directing his(its) work the architect Francisco de Arruda.

In the summer of 1383 a strong army proceeding from Castile, surrounded the city that resisted heroically for 25 days. The king, then of advanced age, came in his defense, but both armies did not manage to fight then the peace was signed. Fruit of this was celebrated the marriage of D ª Beatriz heiress of Portugal with D. Juan I of Castile, the betrothal being celebrated in the cathedral of Badajoz.

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Died the king without leaving descent the Castilian claims the wreath lusa and his wife recognizes him as king of Portugal. The country is divided facing the nobility, the clergy and the people. The Castilian king besieges again Elvas that resisted again. The Portuguese people was revolted against her Regent Leonor Teles and gave death to his husband. Coimbra's, in April, 1385, proclaimed the Master of Avís a king of PortugaL, so that this situation forced that the armies of both claimant were facing in Aljubarrota's battle, which was solved with a terrible defeat of the Castilians. The hostilidades continued until 1411 and affected enormously the border hispanolusa between Alentejo and Estremadura.

Already in 1488 he ordered to raise the Tower of the Honoring, historical moment for the city that lived through a few decades of reappearance. In 1513 D. Manuel the first he grants to him the title of city, which after Lisbon, Oporto, Coimbra and Santarem turned into one of the important mas of the wreath, rising up to Episcopal Headquarters during D. Sebastián's reign in 1570. His cathedral or I Know there was raised in nearness of the Paços of the Council, directing his work the architect Francisco de Arruda.

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  Antonio García Candelas        Sugerencias e impresiones
ENTER ELVAS VILA VIÇOSA BORBA PORTALEGRE BADAJOZ