Almada Municipality - History

History

Human presence in the area of Almada dates back to the end of the Neolithic, approximately 5000 years ago; archeological interventions performed in the municipality suggest that nomadic tribes may have existed, they were sporadic and non-sedentary.

The initial structure of primitive human settlement, had its greatest advance with the Islamic civilization, when Muslims selected Almada to construct a fort in order to defend and monitor the entrance to the Tagus River. Across from Lisbon, the area of Almada was a crossroads of many peoples (Phoenicians, Roman and Muslim) who traded and mixed along the Tagus.

As one of the principal Arab military bases along the southern margin of the Tagus (Arabic: حصن المعدن), it was conquered by the Christian forces of D. Afonso Henriques, with the aid of English Crusaders in 1147. Alongside these Christians there lived many free Moors and Jews, under Royal protection guaranteed them by D. Afonso Henriques in a Charter 1170 (and which was attributed to all the former-Moorish strongholds around Lisbon, Almada, Palmela and Alcácer alone).

Almada received a foral from King Sancho I in 1190. But, this came at a price: Miramolim Jacub-Abu-Jassuf, son of the Moorish leader that had laid siege on Santarém in 1171, and angered by the Christian victories, gathered a large army and boldly attacked into the north conquering Alcácer do Sal and Silves, while forcing the residents of Almada, Palmela and other towns along the River into hiding. It would be some time after the death of Sancho, before the area across the Tagus would be restored to Portuguese control.

When it did, the Order of Santiago, donatorio of Almada afte 28 October 1186, had an important role in the territory (and especially between the Tagus and Sado Rivers). In their role, it facilitated the re-population of acquired territories, and economically, were the beneficiaries of various local economies.