Book of Curiosities

Curiosities

During the construction works of Forte da Graça, between 1763 and 1792, many workers died. As early as August 1764 “four mines were tried, but there were five disgraces of broken arms and legs, and soon one died to pieces.”

Curiosities

In 1765, an English miners captain and three soldiers from his Company, from the Alentejo Artillery Regiment, several times stole gunpowder from one of the work’s magazines. Caught, they were immediately arrested separately. They were tried in the War Council and we don’t know the sentence. However, in an identical crime committed in the same year, a Lieutenant was hanged and after his death his feet, hands and head were cut off and placed at the door of the gunpowder store.

Curiosities

In 1770, the doctor at the Hospital Militar de Elvas (then called Hospital Real da Praça de Elvas) asked for a salary increase because in his hospital, in addition to having to assist the sick soldiers of the city of Elvas, which at the time had four infantry regiments and one of cavalry, he now also had to go to the construction workers. In this way, I watched more than 300 people every day, which was unaffordable.

Curiosities

In the construction of Forte da Graça, taking into account the lack of labor and the urgent need for fortification, the Portuguese king sent prisoners from almost every city in the country to Elvas to be used as workers.

Curiosities

In the construction of Fort da Graça, taking into account the lack of labor and the urgent need for fortification, the Portuguese king sent prisoners from almost every city in the country to Elvas to be used as workers.

Curiosities

After the great earthquake of 1755, the Marquês de Pombal created a 4% tax on goods entering Lisbon. With the revenue from this tax, it was possible to build the Navy Arsenal and the Secretariats of Praça do Comércio in Lisbon and Forte da Graça in Elvas, the latter costing 769:199$039 réis.

Curiosities

On the inner door of Forte da Graça, in addition to a sculptural set where the arms of Portugal are represented, there is a tombstone with the following inscription:

IOSEPUS. I. AUGUSTUS. INVICTED PIUS. / QUO. ADJUSTMENT HOSTIBUS. IN. RELIQUACY PROVINCE INTERCLUDER / CURANTIBUS. GUILLIERMO. COMMITTEE. LIPPIENSE. LUSITANORUM. MILITUM / IMPERATOR SUMMO. ET. SEBASTIAN. JOSEPH OAK MELIO. / COMMITTEE. OEYRENSI. MAGNIFICENT. CONSILIARIO ATTACK. ADMINISTRATOR HANC. / ARCEM. A. FUNDAMENTAL EXTRUX OMNIQUE. PRAESIDE. COMMUNIVIT / AN. MDCCLXVI.

What does it mean “José I, Augusto, Undefeated, Pio, to prevent the entry of enemies into the Province, under the direction of Guilherme, Count de Lippe, Marshal General of the Portuguese Army, and Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Count of Oeiras , first counselor and minister, founded this fort and fully furnished it. Year 1766.

Curiosities

During the French Invasions, the city of Elvas was occupied by French troops commanded by Junot on March 11, 1808. While the city had Colonel Miquel as Military Governor, the Fort of Graça was replaced by Miquel as Military Governor , son of the predecessor. When the majority of French troops withdraw to Lisbon, the city of Elvas is the only one that is garrisoned on the land border in the south of the country. Four companies of Swiss and three of the 86th Regiment of infantry of the line were then stationed at Fort Graça. All weapons and ammunition that existed in the city in the hands of the Portuguese were placed in the forts to prevent an insurrection. Even so, on the night of July 8, 1808, the city’s military governor and a French engineer were ambushed by the Rui de Melo Fountain. Miquel is seriously injured and the horses are killed. With Miquel in danger of his life (he would die a short time later in Lisbon), his son Miquel, governor of Forte da Graça, ordered the execution of seven Portuguese prisoners near the place of the ambush.

Curiosities

After the failed military revolt of 18 April 1925, led among others by Sinel de Cordes and Gomes da Costa, they were sent as political prisoners to Forte da Graça in Elvas. It was in the Fort that they planned the movement of May 28, 1926 that would eventually impose the Military Dictatorship. Who assumes it is Colonel Passos e Sousa, who would become Minister, and was then Governor of the fort.

Contactos

Forte da Nossa Senhora da Graça
Estrada Nacional 264
7350-410 Elvas
268 639 741
forte.graca@cm-elvas.pt
www.cm-elvas.pt

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