Moura - a defesa e a urbanidade

Abstract

Due to the high privileged geographical location of the city of Moura, on the top where Ardila river and "ribeira de Brenhas" join, and very near to the Guadiana River, gave to Moura a military importance since the early ages. Until the Arab period, its conditions, not only because it was self-governed due to the soil wealth and water abundance, but also because the easy defense, Moura was a preferable place for different communities to establish, being a city of great influence in the south of the Iberian Peninsula during the roman and Arab periods. For these reasons it became also a target of many disputes between Arabs as Christians. After the Christian reconquering, its position near to the Kingdom of Castela transforms Moura into a shield of the Portuguese territory and, in particular, of the Guadiana River and its left side bank of the national territory. The innumerous wars that were fought for centuries between the two Kingdoms, many of them took place in Moura, which it was, for many times, the reason of those wars. Its military importance obliged the city to provide itself of military structures in order to face the battles that was target. Since the Christian reconquering until the Succession War the fortress suffered numerous repairs, since the donjon tower until the fortress. However, the military repairs were not exclusive to the fortress itself, but also in the external structures, such as the watch-towers that helped and enlarged the defensive circle of the fortress, which is far away from any other. The high importance of this city does not run out only in its military level. It was also a population center of a highest importance, having it's significantly expansion on the 15th and 16th Centuries, being one of the biggest population centers of Portugal. The "Tratado das Terçarias" would have had a fundamental role in this development. However, the construction of the defense wall would have repressed this expansion that would start again in the 20th Century, after the fall of the defense walls. The urban expansion in the 15th and 16th Centuries would have prejudiced, in a certain way, the defensive and military characteristics of the city. It's disproportionate expansion to the South direction, where the landscape goes up, made the defense of the square very difficult, because the difference in level of the landscape expose it, making it as an easy target, even having modern defense walls armed with revelis and moats. After the last quarrels, the square remains partially destroyed, getting to the conclusion that it was useless its recuperation, because easily would become destroyed again. Therefore, during the 20th Century, the square's destruction becomes more serious. The city loses its importance within the national context as a strategic military place. Now, although the population expands again, but now outside the defense wall, the city of Moura also loses the importance as an important population center.