HistoryOn the road going from Algarve to Spain, just before crossing the Guadiana
River, on the right, a rather imposing ensemble of ruined fortifications sets
itself against the horizon line, dominating a flat area of swamps down to the
mouth of the river. These are the remaining of the last bunker of the Templars,
where thet came to rest, under another name, when the Order was extinct and they
were prosecuted all over Europe and sometimes piously burned at the stakes by
agents of Rome.
This, besides Castro Marim Golfe and Country Club and other reasons makes it
worth a stop. Castro Marim is one of the oldest human settlements in the
Algarve. Signs of neolitich, bronze and iron ages activity and vestiges of
Phoenician presence were found in its grounds. Throughout Roman occupation,
Castro Marim was an important outpost serving as interface for the different
imperial networks - inland, fluvial that overseas (Mediterranean). The name
Castro, from Latin Castrum, implies that some kind of fenced military
infrastructure existed here. Marim has an obvious connection with mare (sea). At
the time the castrum site corresponded to the mouth of the River. With the fall
of the Roman Empire, Castro Marim lost its importance. The ensuing Visigothic
Monarchy was strictly continental power centred in Toledo, with little interest
in the southern fringes of the territory. This was its soft spot.
The lack of attention to the southern border was disastrous and brought to an
end the Iberain Visigothic period. At the outset of the VIII century, two Arab
armies under the command respectively of Tarik and Musa, invaded the Peninsula
through Gibraltar,named after Tarik and conquered the near totality of the
Iberian Peninsula. When the war spoils were distributed among the winners,
Algarve, Castro Marim included, was partitioned among Arab chieftains who
remained tributaries of the Wali of Andaluzia.
The Christian re-conquest of the Iberian Peninsula was a strenuous task that
took almost eight centuries to complete. However, by the mid 13th century what
is today the Portuguese territory was fully liberated. Castro Marim return to
Christendom in 1242, when knights of the Temple, under the command of Paio Peres
Correia defeated the Mussulman forces stationed there.Portuguese king's, de
facto but not de jure, sovereignty over Algarve was then established. The
Castilian king objected, claiming that the territory was perviously a tributary
of the Walli (Lord) of Andaluzia, whose realm he intended to conquer. However,
at the time, the Castilian King was not in a position to validate its claim in
the field. The border contention was settled by the treaty of Alcanises, signed
fifty two years later, by Dinis of portugal and his cousin, Sancho II, of
Castile. Dinis renounced to the township of Ayamonte. The Castilian monarchy, in
turn, recognised the Portuguese sovereignty over the whole territory of Algarve
West of Guadiana and the Portuguese conquests in Alentejo east of Guadiana.
Local tradition favours the legend that Castro Marim fortress was built by
the mussulmans. Such popular version is not substantiated by the archaeological
research in process. Throughout the mussulmanic period, local population,
although significant in size, was scattered along the Guadiana banks, living in
small communities. There is evidence that the population was decreasing in large
numbers towards the end of the period.
The works of the Castle began by order of the Portuguese King Afonso III
(1246 - 1279). Castro Marim was destined to be a military outpost against
mussulmans, still controlling Andaluzia and also a dissuasor of the then
frequent raids of Argelian pirates, but the Portuguese Kings never gave up the
idea of setting up people in this part of the kingdom. In 1277, Afonso III
granted special privileges to the local inhabitants which were latter confirmed
and enlarged by Dinis (1279 - 1325), Joao I (1383 - 1433), Joao II (1481 - 1495)
and Manuel (1495 - 1521).
The outer castle, castelo de Fora, was built in order to offset in trategic
terms the loss of Ayamonte, after the treaty concluded by King Dinis. Now
potential aggressor was the well disciplined Castilian cavalry and no longer the
mussulman's chaotic algazzara.
At the time the King was faced with a dilema: the Pope had requested him, as
all the other Christian Kings, to close the Order of the Temple extinct by a
papal edict of 1321. But King Dinis had high regard for the military services
rendered to him by the Templars and was also aware of the wealth which the
order had brought and created in the country. So he decided to rename the order.
The Templars became the Order of Christ and their headquarters were set up at
remote Castro Marim. For this purpose the King donated the fortress and the
adjoining territory to the monk-knights. The Mestrado of the Order remained
there until 1356, when a papal sanction allowed it to return to the famous
Convent of Christ, at Tomar, in central Portugal, where it remain until 1834.
Then, it was dissolved by a drecree of the liberal Goverment of the day.
The most renowned of the Grao - Mestres of the Order of Christ, was
Henry, the Navigator (1394 - 1460), whose mother, Philipa of Lancaster, was a
daughter of John Gaunt. Until 1513, the Order had great influence on the
Portuguese public life. Its contribution in the form of geographic knowledge
accumulated and financial resources mobilised for the maritime discoveries of
the XIV and XV century is now well established. Besides it serve as a cradle for
the military elite who conducted the destinies of the nation through the period.
The Order of Cristo remained faithful to the Temple's tradition of extending
protection to the Jewsh population. Tomar and Leiria, two domains of the Order,
became , during the period, flourishing Jewish trading centres.
In 1504, King Manuel, still followed the previous policy, caused improvements
of a military nature to be made on the Castle of Castro Marim, enabling it to
serve as a logistic basis for the maritime supply line supporting the Portuguese
held citadels in the Moroccan Northern coast. However the days of glory of the
Order were numbered. Nine years later, the King, motivated by love for a
beautiful Castilian infante, took the decision to comply with Isabel, the
Catholic. This proved disastrous for the previous establishment. The
Monk-knights of Templars-Christ came under suspicion and were gradually
relegated to marginal positions. The Jeronimos, first, and the Jesuits, later,
took over the power behind the throne. As result, Portuguese society lost its
military nerve and simultaneously its commercial and financial vitality faded.
The ruins reople can visit at Castro Marim, more than witnessing of the
eventual redundancy of military fortifications, represent the vestiges of a
social organisation under which a nation acquired great vigour, and that came to
an end, at the outset of the Modern Age, by a capricious decision of an
infatuated king.
At Castro Marim Golfe and Country Club one can enjoy breathtaking views of
the ruined fortification. As you can read from the above Castro Marim played a
very important rule in the Portuguese history.
The Luxury Complex of Castro Marim Golf and Country Club comprises a total
area of over 210 hectares located only 5km from the Spanish border.
The short drives from Faro or Seville International airports along the
connecting motorways mean that Castro Marim is within easy reach of two
interesting and above all enjoyable cultures, whilst avoiding all the noise and
pollution associated with air traffic.
Apart from the Beach Club and the Golf Club Restaurant
there are several other restaurants and bars within and around the development,
all of which will be of the highest quality.
