The area of the current municipality (
concelho) has been inhabited for millennia, with human occupation dating back to the
Paleolithic period. In the many hills of the region, remains of villages from the
Iron Age have been found. Attracted by the rich soil and abundance of resources, the
Romans also left visible marks of their occupation in the area. In the middle of the thirteenth century, the Lands of Maia (
Terras da Maia) extended from the city of Porto to the Ave river and from the sea to the mountains. In 1304 the Lands of Maia were incorporated into those of
Porto, losing its political and administrative autonomy. In 1360, King
Pedro I of Portugal gave the land of Azurara (current
Vila do Conde), with land in Maia, to the then infant
Denis, Lord of Cifuentes, his son. The history of this municipality is also closely linked to the founding of the Portuguese nation. Some authors argue that even the Prince
Afonso Henriques had been educated here, next to the family of Mendes da Maia, who belonged to the Arcebishop of Braga D. Paio Mendes and the famous warrior
Gonçalo Mendes da Maia, the "Lidador" (today the hero of the city), named so for having entered into fearless struggle against the
Saracens. In the
Age of Discovery, the region of Maia produced sails and fabrics for use in the
Portuguese caravels. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the King
Manuel I of Portugal granted the charter, which provided the rent to be paid to the donee Reguengos of Maia, and regulated how to carry out punishments and courts. Between 1700 and 1836, the county was composed of 44 parishes and encompassed the entire range between the sea and the Leça and Ave rivers. With administrative reforms initiated in 1836, Maia became a separate municipality, but reduced both in area and number of parishes. In 1857, the municipality of Maia was no more, it was then restored in 1868. Maia municipality was crossed in 1809 by the
Napoleonic army of the Duke of Dalmatia, the
Marshal Soult, which was going from
Braga to
Porto. Between 1832 and 1834, in the turbulent years of struggles and civil war opposing
Miguel of Portugal to
Pedro IV of Portugal, it was the scene of bloody battles between the absolutist and the liberal factions. ==Economy==