Last modified: 2016-01-31 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: na. senhora de machede | base(wavy) | bridge | castle | fleur-de-lis(blue) |
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![[Nossa Senhora de Machede commune]](../images/p/pt-evrnm.gif)
2:3 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Jan 2016
It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain blue field. Please note that in this photo the flag appears as having a purple shade instead of blue.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Jan 2016
Shield Or with base wavy of Azure and Argent, issuant from base a Roman bridge Sable masoned Argent having three archs, in centre a castle Gules with port and windows Or and three embattled towers, in central chief a fleur-de-lis Azure. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll with inscription in black initials "NOSSA SENHORA DE MACHEDE".
Meaning:
The fleur-de-lis is an attribute of St. Mary, as Our Lady of Nativity being the local patron saint. The castle is representing a masterpiece of historical military architecture, the so called "castelo real de valongo " probably derived from vale-longo, which was located some 20 kms southwest of Évora. There is little known about the date and the order, which erected the castle. General João de Almeid, in "Roteiro dos Monumentos Militares Portugueses", Vol. III a pp. 192-193 says that the castle was founded in the middle of the 14th century, Dom Leonor Afonso bought the region, In the 18th century it appears among the properties of the Marquis of Vaiada, together with other properties belonging to the Counts of Basto, expatriated as traitors of the homeland. The infant Dom Leonor Afonso was a bastard of Dom Afonso III, who died as a saint and was buried in Santa Clara Convent in Santarém. The investigator Pinto Leal dates the origin of the commune as 672 and it is considered being the oldest commune of the Municipality of Évora. The Roman bridge is part of the cultural heritage from times of the Romans. The base wavy is representing Degebe River.
Source: communal webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Jan 2016
Adopted by local council on 18 April 1999, survey of Comissão de Heráldica da Associação dos Arqueólogos Portugueses (CHAAP) on 8 November 1999
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Jan 2016
Nossa Senhora de Machede Commune is one of the 12 communes of the Évora municipality (q.v.); it had 1123 inhabitants in 2011 and covers 185.2 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Jan 2016
back to Évora Communes click here