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

Palmela

The hill castle of the Setúbal peninsula, abandoned and razed in 1191 and refortified after 1195; the Portuguese outpost nearest to the Almohad garrison of Alcácer do Sal.

Who holds it

Name
Sancho I (the crown); the alcaide on 1 January 1200 is not pinned or the Order of Santiago
Title
Royal town under the king's alcaide or tenente
Confidence
medium

Lord in 1200

The crown or the Order of Santiago (granted to Santiago in October 1186; holder in 1200 not pinned).

Overlord

Sancho I of Portugal

How things stand that morning

Being refortified.

Fuero

A foral of Sancho I of 1185 is given in standard accounts (fair).

Militia

Not pinned. No figures.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: The FCSH Sesimbra study.

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. 'Sesimbra, sobre a costa do mar (séculos XII-XIII)' (FCSH digital humanities lab)

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