Gualdim Pais
Gualdim Pais (1118-1195) was a Knight Templar, Crusader and builder of various famous castles in Portugal.
He fought for Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal enabling him to win back much of the territory then under the control of the Almoravids.
Pais was born in Amares in present-day Minho, close to the city of Braga in 1118. Not so much is known about him as a young man, though he excelled as a warrior and was knighted by Afonso Henriques after the Battle of Ourique in 1139, when Christian forces defeated a Moorish army commanded by the governor of Córdoba.
Pais soon left for Palestine as a Knight Templar to participate in the Crusades. He fought at various sieges including Gaza and Ascalon (Ashkelon) as well as in battles around Sidon and Antioch. His experiences of siege warfare were to influence his design of various fortresses back in his Portuguese homeland.
Castles
On his return to Portugal he became the fourth Grand Master of the Order of Knights Templar in Portugal in 1157. The Order was at that time administered from Braga.
He went on to found the Convento de Cristo, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tomar in 1160. Tomar was then near the border of Christian and Moorish occupied territory. He also founded and issued a charter (foral) to nearby Pombal.
Gualdim Pais was also given authority to design and build several other Templar castles in this disputed border area separating Christian and Moorish forces. His hand can be seen at Almourol Castle, Idanha Castle, Ceres Castle, the now ruined Monsanto Castle in Monsanto and Pombal Castle.
Death
Pais died in Tomar in 1195 aged 77. His tomb is in the Templar Church of Santa Maria do Olival.
The Igreja de Santa Maria dos Olivais is connected with secret and mysterious Templar initiation rituals and the recent discovery of secret underground passageways seems to confirm this.
The church is actually set below ground level and signifies the spiritual descent into the womb of the earth and rebirth as a Knight Templar.
