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D. Gualdim Pais (1118-1195)

D. Gualdim Pais was born in Amares, in the Braga region. Squire to King Afonso Henriques, he fought alongside him in the fight against the Moors and was later knighted by the king on the Ourique battlefield in 1139. He later became a crusader and friar knight and left for Palestine where he fought for five years. Upon his return in 1157, he was made assignee of the Temple in Portugal - he was the fourth Master since the Order had been established in Soure in 1128.

According to an existent tombstone at the Convent of Christ, placed next to the primitive entrance of the Templar Rotunda by infante D. Henrique, Master Gualdim Pais, besides the Tomar village and castle, also founded the Pombal Castle, the Zêzere Castle - which does not exist anymore - in the Vila Nova da Barquinha region - as well as the Almourol, Idanha and Monsanto castles.

He gave a ruling charter to Tomar village in 1162 and it so became the headquarters of the Knights Templar of the kingdom. In 1190, the Almohad Moorish forces under the command of Calif Abu Yusuf Ya'qub al Mansur, surrounded these headquarters of the Knights Templar. The Knights Templar managed to defend it thanks to an efficient strategy, and after six days, the siege was lifted and the Muslims abandoned their mission.

D. Gualdim Pais died in Tomar in 1195 and is buried in the Santa Maria dos Olivais church - a pantheon for Templar masters.