The municipality of Montemor-o-Novo received charters from the kings D.Sancho I (1203) and D.Manuel (1503) and played an important role in the fight against the Castilian occupation (1580 – 1640) and during the French invasions (beginning of the 19th century).The time of the heyday of Montemor-o-Novo was the 15th and 16th centuries, when the prosperity brought by commerce was combined with the fact that the court remained for a long time in Évora, which made the town a frequent venue for political events. , with the making of cuts and the permanence of the king in the Palace of the Alcaides.In Montemor, in 1496, D. Manuel I made the historic decision to have the sea route to India discovered during the general councils held in the city.
In the numbering commissioned in 1527 by D.João III, the first population census made in Portugal, counted 899 fires, being in sixth place among Alentejo lands. D. Sebastião gave it, in 1563, the title of Notable Village, given that it was an “old and big village” surrounded and ennobled by churches, temples, monasteries and many other noble buildings and houses “At this time, some of the most important works of architecture in the city belong, such as the Mercy, the Convents of Salutation, St. Francis and St. Anthony, the Chapel of Our Lady of Visitation, the Old Hospital and the portal of the Church of St. Mary of the Bishop. Historically, some events stand out from the daily calm of the population.
Among them are: the resistance to the first French invasion, commanded by Junot, in 1808, near the bridge of Lisbon; the parking in 1834 of Saldanha’s liberal army staff during civil strife between liberals and miguelists; the visit of D. Maria II and D. Fernando II in 1843.The passage from Montemor-o-Novo to the city, by decision of the Assembly of the Republic of 11 March 1988, is another important fact of the recent history of Montemor-o-Novo.
In site Camara Municipal Montemor-o-Novo