The Role of Military Orders in Securing the Portuguese Frontier

During the early years of Portuguese expansion, the Tagus Valley and the Alentejo remain too dangerous for the settlement of unarmed colonists due to frequent Muslim counterattacks. To secure these contested regions, the early Portuguese kings rely on religious-military orders, granting them large tracts of land in return for fortification, cultivation, and defense.

The Arrival of the Military Orders

Originally founded in the early 12th century to wage war against infidels and protect Christian pilgrims, these knight-monks have become powerful in both the Holy Land and Europe. In Portugal, their role is crucial, as the king lacks a standing army and must outsource military defense to these warrior-monks.

The Templars and the Fortification of Tomar

Among these military orders, the most successful is the Order of the Templars, which is granted territory along the Rio Zêzere, a tributary of the Tagus. Here, they construct a fortified monastery in Templar fashion at Tomar, establishing a stronghold that becomes a key military and administrative center.

The Expansion of the Templar Domain

Over time, the Templar-controlled lands grow to encompass a vast strategic region, stretching:

• North to Tomar,
• South to Santarém, and
• West to the Benedictine lands of Alcobaça.

The presence of these knightly orders plays a vital role in the stabilization and defense of Portuguese territory, ensuring that the Christian frontier remains secure as the kingdom expands southward.