How many places can claim to lend their name to an entire nation? Today, we find ourselves in Idães. This place is more than just a charming parish. It is a piece of Portugal’s very origin story.
Welcome to Idães. It is a civil parish nestled in Felgueiras. Felgueiras is a municipality within the Porto district. This region of Portugal is steeped in history. It offers picturesque views with mountains like Alto da Senhora and Monte do Telégrafo nearby.
Idães is not just any place. The very name “Portugal” may trace back to the area around Porto. The area was once known as Portus Cale.
Imagine this area long ago. Romans renamed the early settlement to Portus Cale around 200 BCE. “Portus” meant port. “Cale” meant warm passage in Latin. Portus Cale became a key point for controlling the Douro River’s mouth.
Over time, Portus Cale evolved. It became a vital port city. Travelers journeying between Olissipo which is Lisbon and Braca Augusta which is Braga would pass through here. They would cross the river, rest, and change horses. Both sides of the Douro near Portus Cale came to be called Portucale.
In the 5th century, Germanic tribes and Visigoths fought for Portucale. Still, it remained an important city. Portucale even minted its own coins under Visigothic rule.
The Moors invaded in 711. Destruction followed. However, Christian forces recaptured the city by 750. It was abandoned for nearly a century.
King Afonso III of Asturias sent Vímara Peres. He was sent to reconquer the lands between the Minho and Douro rivers in 868. Vímara Peres succeeded. The king made him Count of Condado de Portucale.
Portucale was rebuilt. It was fortified as the capital. As the Reconquista advanced, the city prospered. Portucale then began to refer to the entire new country of Portugal.
The borders of Condado de Portucale expanded. It eventually became known as Condado Portucalense. This was because its territories stretched beyond just the city.
In 1096, King Afonso VI used Condado Portucalense. Portucale was its capital. He used it as a wedding gift for his daughter D. Teresa. She married Count Henrique of Burgundy. They became the parents of Afonso Henriques. He was the first Portuguese king.
Idães offers a glimpse into these ancient times. You can feel the weight of history. It shaped a nation. With a population of around 2,500 people, Idães maintains its charm. It covers an area of just over 7 square kilometers.
Here in Idães, we are standing on ground that helped birth a nation. It is more than just a civil parish. It is a cornerstone of Portugal’s identity.