Castle of Marvão

Castle of Marvão (Castelo de Marvão)
Castle (Castelo)
A view of the main Castle of Marvão, with keep tower, as seen from the garden alongside the Church
Official name: Castelo de Marvão/Fortificações de Marvão
Named for: Marvão
Country	Portugal
Region	Alentejo
Subregion	Alto Alentejo
District	Portalegre
Municipality	Marvão
Location	Santa Maria de Marvão
- coordinates	39°23′40.3″N 7°22′35.6″W / 39.394528°N 7.376556°W / 39.394528; -7.376556Coordinates: 39°23′40.3″N 7°22′35.6″W / 39.394528°N 7.376556°W / 39.394528; -7.376556
Architects	Luís Serrão Pimentel
Style	Medieval
Materials	Masonry stone, Limestone plaster, Granite, Quartzite, Schist, Tile
Origin	8th century
- Initiated	876
- Completion	1299
Owner	Portuguese Republic
For public	Public
Easiest access	Estrada Nacional EN359-6 or Estrada Nacional EN246-1
Management	Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico
Operator	Câmara Municipal de Marvão/Centro Cultural de Marvão
Status	National Monument Monumento Nacional
Listing	Decree 8/228, Diário do Governo, Série 1, 133 (4 July 1922); Special Protection Zone (ZEP), Zona non aedificandi, Dispatch, Diário do Governo, 116 (27 April 1962); Included in the Protected Area of Serra de São Mamede (PT041214020015)

The Castle of Marvão (Portuguese: Castelo de Marvão) is a well-preserved medieval castle located in the civil parish of Santa Maria de Marvão, in the municipality of Marvão, Portuguese district of Portalegre.

Little is when the first peoples settled in the area of Marvão, but Roman forces began to appear in the region, following the strategic road linking it with Cáceres Santarém and bridge over the River Sever.

During the early Middle Ages, the Swabians, Visigoths and the eventually the Umayyad Arabs began to settle in the area. The construction of the castle at Marvão was attributed to 8th century Islamic knight, Ibn Marwan, who began to dwell in the castle between 876 and 877. By the beginning of the 10th century, the settlement was designated Amaia de Ibn Maruán or, alternately, the fortress of Amaia. Christian forces loyal to King D. Afonso I (1112–1185) conquered the region and town from Moorish forces sometime between 1160 and 1166.

With the demarcation of Castelo Branco in 1214, Marvão was already included within Portuguese territory. The first foral (charter) was issued in 1226 by King D. Sancho II (1223–1248), done to ensure the development of the unpopulated outpost, against repeated attacks from the Kingdom of Castile. The castle briefly fell into Almohad hands in the 1190s.

Within the next few years, King D. Afonso III donated the fortified settlement to the Order of Malta (1271), later awarded to his son, D. Afonso Sanches, along with landlords of the castles in Arronches, Vide and Portalegre. For this reason, at the beginning the reign of King D. Dinis (1279–1325), the village and its castle found themselves involved in the dispute between the sovereign and D. Afonso, and was conquered by the forces of the sovereign in 1299. At the end of these events, the fields of Marvão, Portalegre and Arronches were exchanged for those in Sintra and Ourém, becoming regal possessions/property by 1300. D. Dinis issued a new foral, and undertook the expansion and strengthening of defenses, resulting in the construction of the keep.