Castelo de Terena (Terena Castle)
History
Terena Castle is located in the village and parish of the same name. In a dominant position on top of a hill, it was part of the defense line of the Guadiana river, together with the castles of Juromenha, Alandroal, Monsaraz and Mourão.
Although the primitive human occupation of the region goes back to prehistory, there is no information about the primitive settlement or fortification of the current Terena.
The oldest documentary information about the village dates back to the reign of D. Afonso III (1248-1279), when the royal knight Gil Martins and his wife, D. Maria João, granted it a charter, in 1262. needed for the start of construction work on the castle, it is believed that it took place during this period, since the Alto Guadiana border was of strategic importance for the Portuguese Crown, and given the interest shown by King D. Dinis ( 1279-1325) in the consolidation of this line, also ensured by the castles of Elvas, Juromenha and Alandroal.
Under the reign of D. Fernando (1367-1387) the castle and its barbican are referred to (1380), which denotes that the fortification work was in progress.
After the 1383-1385 crisis, D. João I (1385-1433) donated the village's domains to the Order of Avis, which some authors understand as an indication of works to recover and modernize its defence.
D. João II (1481-1495) appointed Nuno Martins da Silveira (1482) as Mayor of the village, a name associated with reconstruction work on the castle. This broad campaign of works continued in the first decades of the 16th century, under the reign of King Manuel I (1495-1521), with works being completed on the keep and on the palace of mayors. In this phase, the castle is figured by Duarte de Armas (Book of Fortresses, c. 1509). The design of the keep is attributed to the architects of the kingdom, Diogo and Francisco de Arruda.
In the context of the War of Restoration of Portuguese independence, the castle's defensive position was neglected to the detriment of the fortification of the stronghold of Elvas, which concentrated the efforts of military architects. Although for this reason it did not undergo modernization works in the period, but only reinforcement, as shown by the Porta das Sortidas, facing Spain, its defense came to suffer damage under attack by troops under the command of the Duke of São Germano.
In the 18th century, it suffered further damage caused by the 1755 earthquake.
The castle is classified as a National Monument by Decree published on June 2, 1946.
https://www.castelosdeportugal.pt/castelos/CastelosSECXIII/terena.html
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