Castelo de Algoso

In April 1224, the primitive structure was radically altered.[1] That year (or just before it)[9] the castle was donated by King Sancho II to the Knights Hospitaller, after a long period of war with the Kingdom of León.[1] At that time, the expansion of regal authority in the Trás-os-Montes Province privileged the creation of new towns, of an urban character, and relegating the existing castles into defensive military structures that expressed regal authority in the lands of Miranda and Pena Roias.[1] The castle with "all its terms and belongings" were extended, therefore, to prior D. Rui Pais and his "successors, brother monks".[4] The town and municipality of Ylgoso, Ulgoso ou São Sebastião de Algoso, was part of the bishopric and district of Bragança. In 1230, the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller came to a concordat in Coimbra, over various lands held between them, including Ylgoso (Algoso), Vila Chã, Atenor, Penas Róias, Paradela and others, outside the bishopric of Bragança. On 22 June 1239, D. Pedro Costem, commander of the Order of the Temple established his commandery of Mogadouro and Pena Roias, that included Algoso. But, later, on 13 February 1291, King D. Dinis (1279-1325) reestablished in Coimbra, that D. Fernão Peres (o Mossejo), would hold the commandery of Algoso and other lands within its range. These changes had an effect on the annual rents paid by their commander: between 7000 and 8000 cruzados, including products from the abbeys of Travanca, Sendim, Vilar Seco, Duas Igrejas and Guide. The castle, therefore, became a focus of a primitive church, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Assunção(Our Lady of the Assumption), but became known as Our Lady of the Castle by peasantry and gentry.[4]