Sao Jorge history: timeline, key events, evolution

The hill in Santa Maria Maior where Sao Jorge Castle is located has been a place of interest for various civilizations since the Iron Age. Some archaeological studies suggest that the area was first occupied by Celts. It was also home to Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans. A strategic location, close to the port, Lisbon was crucial to the Roman Empire. In 48 BC, the Romans created the first fortification on the hilltop. The construction of large buildings and the wall commenced only during the time of the Moors, in the 9th and 10th centuries. Interestingly, there is no consensus among historians as to whether the Moors built the castle that stands today.

The earliest trace of Islamic settlement on the hill dates back to the 8th century in the Umayyad caliphate period. Some inscriptions show that it was the Islamic ruler Hisam II who ordered the construction of the walls and buildings. The construction was supervised by the statesman Almanzor. The archaeological evidence pointing to the fortification dates back to 985. It describes Lisbon as a Madina, the traditional walled city in the Islamic world. Historians believe the reference shows that Lisbon was a walled city during the period of the Moors, and construction was prevalent.

The political tug of war between invading Moors and Christian rulers intensified in the 12th century. In 1147, Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, reclaimed the city of Lisbon in the crusade. The military campaign known as the reconquest effectively ended the rule of Moors in Europe. As a result, Sao Jorge Castle became one of the prized possessions of the campaign. After the reconquest, the castle underwent several modifications. Historians are not sure about the changes made to the castle immediately after the crusade, but inscriptions refer to the castle during the time of King D. Afonso III and his son, D. Dinis. In the 13th century, the castle also served as a residential area, and later in the 14th century, as a hospital.