Torre de Dona Chama
Encyclopedia
Torre de Dona Chama is a Portuguese
civil parish in the municipality
and district of Bragança
, in the Trás-os-Montes region of northern Portugal. In 2001 its population was approximately 1386 inhabitants dispersed over an extensive area of 27.68 km² (its density was 40 residents per square kilometre).
, its name is derived from two precepts: the existence of a tower , whose owner was a local lady (where Dona Chama is the Lady Chama). Historical entymology suggests that the latter surname Chama was actually derived from Flamula, altered to Chamôa before taking on this name. Medieval chancelleries refer to the region as Turris de Domina Flamnula, and by the 13th century, the foral
issued by King Denis
indicated the area as Torre de Dona Climâmoa. Some historians indicate there is a certain coincidence between the noblewoman, Dona Châmoa Rodrigues, who lived there in 960, and consequently consider her the founder of the locality.
There are clear archeological remnants that date the settlement of this region. On the São Brás Hill, a small hermatige was constructed to the patron saint Saint Blaise
, whose chapel was constructed from the walls of Luso-Roman fort. It is likely that this chapel was constructed after the demolish/destruction of another pre-existing temple (likely Santa Maria), since Saint Blaise was not a common saint during the High Middle Ages. Meanwhile the castro
fort suffered many different invasions and defenses from Romans, Moors and Christians over the years.
The local ecclesiastical parish of 1758 were the remains of the devotional community around São Brás, and likely populated Torre de D. Chama. Various copper and bronze utensils and some ceramics were encountered during excavations in the site. During the Middle Ages, Torre de D. Chama began to gain an important strategic role, resulting in the issuing of a foral
(charter) by King Denis on 25 April 1287 (later renovated on 25 March 1299). Much later, King Manuel
conceded aother foral on 14 May 1512. During the reign of King Ferdinand
the signeurial rights were passed on the Spanish nobleman, which were later reversed during the Regency of John, the Master of Aviz
, who passed this title to Gonçalo Vasques Guedes, a Portuguese nobleman and donatorio
of Murça. This title remained in the family for several generations.
The ecclesiastical parish was administered by clergy approved by the Guide Abbey.
The municipality of Torre de D. Chama was extinguished in 1855, its parishes being dispersed to the neighboring municipalities of Vinhais, Macedo de Cavaleiros and Mirandela (specifically Espadanedo, Ervedosa, Ferreira, Fradizela, Lamalonga, Guide and S. Pedro Velho).
In 1530, the population included 317 residents distributed within its small settlements: Lama Longa and Argana with 10 each; Vilar d'Ouro and Ribeirinha with six; Ferradosa, Mosteirô and Seixo with seven; Vai D'Amieiro had three; Couços, Regadeiro, and Vai de Navalho with nine; Vilares had 12; S. Pedro Velho 21; Fornos 18; Melles 25; Guide
37; Vale de Gouvinhas
17; Fradizela 26; Vale de Prados 14; Múrias 24; Gandariças with four; Vale Maior 11; and Vila Nova with six.
In 1796, the resident population was approximately 1391 men and 1289 women, that included four barbers, 17 clergy, three literary writers, 41 unemployed, six businessmen, four surgeons/doctors, two merchants, 290 farmers and 140 day-laborers, 24 seamstresses, 20 coblers, seven carpenters, 14 stonesmiths, four ironsmiths, five blacksmiths, one hatmaker, 7 transporters/carriage drivers and 103 domestic servants.
In 1960, transport was a primary function in Torre (linking Bragança and Mirandela) and supporting the merchant industries, such as commerce, olive oil production, cereal crops, fruit and wine. Located in Torre were: a fertilizer deposit, two banking agencies, a funeral home, a magazine concern, four insurance agents, 11 seamstresses, one sports association and Casa do Povo, one repair garage, one olive oil deposit, an olive oil merchant, four barbers, two cafés, a pharmacy, a metal shop, a philharmonic band, gas station, a metal fabricator, an agricultural implement dealer, three medics, seven markets/shops, four millers, three hotels, four teachers, the civil registry, three sawmills, three butchers, two rocksmiths and three transport companies.
Owing to energetic growth rate and resident population Torre de Dona Chama was elevated to the status of vila (town) in 1991.
Apart from the main settlement, the parish is highlighted by two other communities:
, fertilizer, liming, animal feed and their derivatives have been economic successes. These have helped to produce and expand the production of olive oil, wine, various fruits and cereal crops. Mechanization of agricultural actitives has begun to spread, in a region that has traditionally used hoes, forks, pics and rakes. There are various examples of animal husbandry, including dairy and meat cattle, goats, sheep and pig farmers in the parish.
The region is also home to flourmilling factories, bakers, olive oil producers, cementmakers, gravel mines, ceramics artisans, marble and granite sculptures, and masons,in addition to wine cellars, aluminum stampers, steelsmiths, sawmills and carpentry businesses.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
civil parish in the municipality
Mirandela Municipality
Mirandela is a municipality of 25,780 inhabitants, in the northeast corner of Portugal.-History:The settlements of Mirandela date back to the pre-historical period, but primarily relate to a period of Roman occupation. During this era, the main settlement of Mirandela was a Roman civitas, known...
and district of Bragança
Bragança (district)
Bragança District is a traditional political division of Portugal, in the northeast corner bordering on Spain, covering 7.4% of the nations continental landmass. The capital of the district, Bragança, is 217 kilometres from Porto, the second largest town in Portugal, and 107 kilometres and 169...
, in the Trás-os-Montes region of northern Portugal. In 2001 its population was approximately 1386 inhabitants dispersed over an extensive area of 27.68 km² (its density was 40 residents per square kilometre).
History
Settled prior to the establishment of a Kingdom of PortugalKingdom of Portugal
The Kingdom of Portugal was Portugal's general designation under the monarchy. The kingdom was located in the west of the Iberian Peninsula, Europe and existed from 1139 to 1910...
, its name is derived from two precepts: the existence of a tower , whose owner was a local lady (where Dona Chama is the Lady Chama). Historical entymology suggests that the latter surname Chama was actually derived from Flamula, altered to Chamôa before taking on this name. Medieval chancelleries refer to the region as Turris de Domina Flamnula, and by the 13th century, the foral
Foral
thumb|left|200px|Foral of Castro Verde - PortugalThe word foral derives from the Portuguese word foro, ultimately from Latin forum, equivalent to Spanish fuero, Galician foro, Catalan furs and Basque foru ....
issued by King Denis
Denis of Portugal
Dinis , called the Farmer King , was the sixth King of Portugal and the Algarve. The eldest son of Afonso III of Portugal by his second wife, Beatrice of Castile and grandson of king Alfonso X of Castile , Dinis succeeded his father in 1279.-Biography:As heir to the throne, Infante Dinis was...
indicated the area as Torre de Dona Climâmoa. Some historians indicate there is a certain coincidence between the noblewoman, Dona Châmoa Rodrigues, who lived there in 960, and consequently consider her the founder of the locality.
There are clear archeological remnants that date the settlement of this region. On the São Brás Hill, a small hermatige was constructed to the patron saint Saint Blaise
Saint Blaise
Saint Blaise was a physician, and bishop of Sebastea . According to his Acta Sanctorum, he was martyred by being beaten, attacked with iron carding combs, and beheaded...
, whose chapel was constructed from the walls of Luso-Roman fort. It is likely that this chapel was constructed after the demolish/destruction of another pre-existing temple (likely Santa Maria), since Saint Blaise was not a common saint during the High Middle Ages. Meanwhile the castro
Castro culture
Castro culture is the archaeological term for naming the Celtic archaeological culture of the northwestern regions of the Iberian Peninsula from the end of the Bronze Age until it was subsumed in local Roman culture...
fort suffered many different invasions and defenses from Romans, Moors and Christians over the years.
The local ecclesiastical parish of 1758 were the remains of the devotional community around São Brás, and likely populated Torre de D. Chama. Various copper and bronze utensils and some ceramics were encountered during excavations in the site. During the Middle Ages, Torre de D. Chama began to gain an important strategic role, resulting in the issuing of a foral
Foral
thumb|left|200px|Foral of Castro Verde - PortugalThe word foral derives from the Portuguese word foro, ultimately from Latin forum, equivalent to Spanish fuero, Galician foro, Catalan furs and Basque foru ....
(charter) by King Denis on 25 April 1287 (later renovated on 25 March 1299). Much later, King Manuel
Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...
conceded aother foral on 14 May 1512. During the reign of King Ferdinand
Ferdinand of Portugal
-Kings:* Ferdinand I of Portugal * Ferdinand II of Portugal , King Consort to Mary II of Portugal-Infantes:* Infante Fernando, Count of Flanders , son of Sancho I of Portugal...
the signeurial rights were passed on the Spanish nobleman, which were later reversed during the Regency of John, the Master of Aviz
John I of Portugal
John I KG , called the Good or of Happy Memory, more rarely and outside Portugal the Bastard, was the tenth King of Portugal and the Algarve and the first to use the title Lord of Ceuta...
, who passed this title to Gonçalo Vasques Guedes, a Portuguese nobleman and donatorio
Donatorio
A Donatário, a Portuguese word roughly meaning 'endowed' sometimes anglicized as Donatary, was a private person who was bestowed by the Crown with a considerable piece of land, called a donátaria, which was handed over at his discretion, exempt from normal colonial administration through some...
of Murça. This title remained in the family for several generations.
The ecclesiastical parish was administered by clergy approved by the Guide Abbey.
The municipality of Torre de D. Chama was extinguished in 1855, its parishes being dispersed to the neighboring municipalities of Vinhais, Macedo de Cavaleiros and Mirandela (specifically Espadanedo, Ervedosa, Ferreira, Fradizela, Lamalonga, Guide and S. Pedro Velho).
In 1530, the population included 317 residents distributed within its small settlements: Lama Longa and Argana with 10 each; Vilar d'Ouro and Ribeirinha with six; Ferradosa, Mosteirô and Seixo with seven; Vai D'Amieiro had three; Couços, Regadeiro, and Vai de Navalho with nine; Vilares had 12; S. Pedro Velho 21; Fornos 18; Melles 25; Guide
Guide, Mirandela
Guide is a Portuguese village at Torre de Dona Chama, district of Bragança.Guide has the grandeur of an ancient parish field, the main square and houses are showing nice care of old buildings, along with the modern....
37; Vale de Gouvinhas
Vale de Gouvinhas
The village Vale de Gouvinhas is situated in a valley on the right bank of the river Tuela in the town of Mirandela, which lies at 20 km. It borders the villages Abambres , Vale de Telhas , Bouça and Cabanelas...
17; Fradizela 26; Vale de Prados 14; Múrias 24; Gandariças with four; Vale Maior 11; and Vila Nova with six.
In 1796, the resident population was approximately 1391 men and 1289 women, that included four barbers, 17 clergy, three literary writers, 41 unemployed, six businessmen, four surgeons/doctors, two merchants, 290 farmers and 140 day-laborers, 24 seamstresses, 20 coblers, seven carpenters, 14 stonesmiths, four ironsmiths, five blacksmiths, one hatmaker, 7 transporters/carriage drivers and 103 domestic servants.
In 1960, transport was a primary function in Torre (linking Bragança and Mirandela) and supporting the merchant industries, such as commerce, olive oil production, cereal crops, fruit and wine. Located in Torre were: a fertilizer deposit, two banking agencies, a funeral home, a magazine concern, four insurance agents, 11 seamstresses, one sports association and Casa do Povo, one repair garage, one olive oil deposit, an olive oil merchant, four barbers, two cafés, a pharmacy, a metal shop, a philharmonic band, gas station, a metal fabricator, an agricultural implement dealer, three medics, seven markets/shops, four millers, three hotels, four teachers, the civil registry, three sawmills, three butchers, two rocksmiths and three transport companies.
Owing to energetic growth rate and resident population Torre de Dona Chama was elevated to the status of vila (town) in 1991.
Geography
Torre de D. Chama is situated on the left bank of the River Tuela, a little more than three kilometres north-northeast of the district capital. It is fronted by a green mound of the Serra da Nogueira, south by the fertile lands of the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros, and crossed by various raviness. It is 25 kilometres from Mirandela, Macedo de Cavaleiros or Valpaços and 50 kilometres from Bragança.Apart from the main settlement, the parish is highlighted by two other communities:
- GuideGuide, MirandelaGuide is a Portuguese village at Torre de Dona Chama, district of Bragança.Guide has the grandeur of an ancient parish field, the main square and houses are showing nice care of old buildings, along with the modern....
- identified by its grandioso square, location of the main church, and with several restored dwellings that indicate its history; - Vilares - located along the road to Mirandela, a stretch of four kilometres with a scattering of a dozen buildings, that include the main Chapel and the Casa Rural (Rural House)
Economy
The parish has many resources, and its inhabitants do not only dedicate themselves to agricultural activities. Although it is the dominate income industry, commerce, education and other services are influential. Agricultural activities associated with seed, graftingGrafting
Grafting is a horticultural technique whereby tissues from one plant are inserted into those of another so that the two sets of vascular tissues may join together. This vascular joining is called inosculation...
, fertilizer, liming, animal feed and their derivatives have been economic successes. These have helped to produce and expand the production of olive oil, wine, various fruits and cereal crops. Mechanization of agricultural actitives has begun to spread, in a region that has traditionally used hoes, forks, pics and rakes. There are various examples of animal husbandry, including dairy and meat cattle, goats, sheep and pig farmers in the parish.
The region is also home to flourmilling factories, bakers, olive oil producers, cementmakers, gravel mines, ceramics artisans, marble and granite sculptures, and masons,in addition to wine cellars, aluminum stampers, steelsmiths, sawmills and carpentry businesses.