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

Idanha-a-Velha (Egitânia)

The old Roman city and see of Egitânia on the Ponsul, given to the Templars with Monsanto in 1165.

Its bishop is about to move to Guarda. In 1199 the master added the Açafa estate, making a Templar domain from Idanha to the Tagus.

Who holds it

Name
The Order of the Temple (master Lopo Fernandes, per the Idanha castle article)
Title
Templar lordship
Since
1165
Confidence
medium

See the Church map, Templars (Portugal).

Lord in 1200

The Templars (granted 1165; confirmed by Sancho I to master Lopo Fernandes in 1197).

Overlord

Sancho I of Portugal

How things stand that morning

Templar.

Fuero

Templar lordship; the foral of the new town of Idanha (Idanha-a-Nova) is later (1201 or 1206 in different accounts).

Militia

Not pinned. No figures.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: From the Idanha castle article and the Church map.

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

  1. Castle of Idanha-a-Nova (en.wikipedia)

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