Frontier town · Kingdom of Portugal · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Castelo Branco (the Cardosa estate)

On 1 January 1200 there is no town of Castelo Branco: only the Cardosa estate in the Templars' new domain between Idanha and the Tagus.

Do not back-project the later town or castle.

Who holds it

Name
The Order of the Temple (thin)
Title
Templar estate
Since
about 1198 (thin)
Confidence
low

Standard accounts say the Cardosa estate was given to the Templars about 1198; the town of Vila Franca da Cardosa gets its foral from the Templar master Pedro Alvito in 1213 and the castle is built later. Not re-checked.

Lord in 1200

The Templars, through the Cardosa estate (thin); no town yet.

Overlord

Sancho I of Portugal

How things stand that morning

Templar estate, thinly settled.

Fuero

None on 1 January 1200 (foral of 1213).

Militia

Not pinned. No figures.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Standard accounts, not re-checked.

Primary sources for Portugal

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

5 more in the sources library for France and Iberia.

Sources and studies

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.