Possibly, if you are Portuguese, you must have heard the name of D. Sesnando Davides during history lessons in school... or maybe not! But this character, half forgotten, had a key role in the design of what is Portugal nowadays. So, who was D. Sesnando Davides and what was his influence on Coimbra's region history during the middle ages.
It is believed that Sesnando Davides was born in Tentúgal (near Coimbra). Around 1040 and taking advantage of conflicts between the Christians in the North, the Moorish elites extended their area of influence and attacked, looted and robbed, goods and people, in no man's land such as Coimbra at the time. It was then that, maybe, Sesnando was "kidnapped" and taken to Seville to the Court of al-Mutadid. There he got the education, it was known that he had knowledge of the letters, and was gradually gained the respect of the Seville elite. So he came to be vizier or "alvazil", title that he used for the rest of his life. In 1060, and for reasons unclear until today, he abandons Seville and joins King Fernando I helping him in the Christian conquest of the region between Vouga and Mondego, thus obtaining a place at the council of Fernando I of León and Castile, but also of King Afonso VI.
In 1064, he convinces Fernando I to conquer Coimbra. After a six months siege, come out victorious and the monarch appoints Sesnando Governor of Coimbra, but also, of an extensive territory between the Douro River and the Saracen border; and between Viseu and Lamego, and the sea. He then used his powers to repopulate, manage and defend the territory by building forts and churches.
He ordered the construction or to rebuild a number of castles, such as Montemor-o-Velho and Santa Eulália which protected Coimbra, the castle in Soure reinforced the southern flank and the castle of Penela and Arouce (Lousã) kept watch over the road from Tomar. This defensive line was reinforced with watch towers, like the ones in Alvorge, Ateanha, Bera, Vale de Todos and probably Santiago da Guarda.
He married with D. Loba Nunes, the only child of D. Nuno Mendes, the last count of the Portuguese County, with whom he had, at least, a daughter called Elvira Sesnandes.
Thus he ruled the region of Coimbra for about 30 years old. Given his Mozarabic origins and his deep knowledge of Islamic and Christian cultures, he was able to keep the peace between the two sides and by allowing them to keep their rites and traditions. It was also a time of growth and prosperity in this region, thanks to, in particular, to his leadership qualities.
She died on the 26 th or 28 th of August 1091. His tomb can be visited in the cloisters of Coimbra's old cathedral.
Sources:
Botelho Barata Isaac, Francisco (2013) “SESNANDO DAVIDES – Alvazil, Cônsul, Estratega e Moçárabe” Dissertação do Mestrado em História, Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa