Agents of population and evangelization, mentors of parish growth, between the Côa and Távora rivers – 13th and 14th centuries

Abstract

The present work deals with the problems related to the evolution of the parish network, from the 13th to the 14th century, in the territory between the Távora and Côa rivers, which was one of the four districts of the bishopric of Lamego. We sought to identify and list constraints and intervenients that enabled the settlement of this area, from the post-Christian reconquest period, namely its geostrategic location. The fact that it is a frontier zone required measures, with a view to their settlement, by the monarchy and manor houses present in the territory, through the granting of instruments of fixation of the population. After the Christian reconquest, the parish network takes its first steps and evolves according to the decisions and guidelines of the Catholic Church. The knowledge of the evolution of the parish network was made from the available sources and allowed us to list the various agents responsible for canonical erection, growth, maintenance and procedures.