The origins of the city of Viseu date back to the
pre-Roman period of the Celts and Lusitanians.
Vissaîegobor is the name given to the settlement that later became the city of Viseu, Portugal, during the pre-Roman period. It is believed to be of
Celtic or
Lusitanian origin. The city was renamed as *Vissaium during the Romanization period, with a possible Latinized suffix. With its
Romanisation the settlement gained importance, being at the intersection of a series of Roman roads linking
Mérida,
Lisbon, and
Galicia. Viseu is historically associated with
Viriathus, the
Lusitanian hero believed have been born in this region. After the Roman occupation of the peninsula, under the Suebians and then the
Visigoths, the settlement was elevated to the status of city and to the seat of a diocese in the 6th century.
Middle Ages The origins of Viseu extend to proto-history, when migrating groups settled the territory, including the
Celts and Lusitanians. Roman colonists settled in these territories during eras of prosperity and peace, leading eventually to a succession of rulers, namely
Suebic, Gothic and Muslim. By the mid sixth century, the Suebians had already established a community, with a bishop elected by the suffrage of
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga. For many years it was incorporated into the Bishopric of Coimbra, due to the intervention of the clergy, including St Teotónio. In the 12th century, Viseu began regaining its importance as an urban centre. Peace lasted for the next three centuries after that, allowing the city to prosper. Following the
death of King Ferdinand I, the
Castilians sought to enforce (by force-of-arms), its rights to the lands/territories of the County of Portugal, bringing unrest once more. During
Countship of Portugal, Viseu had served as the seat of the Court for
Henry, Count of Portugal and
Countess Teresa, who granted a
foral to the city in 1123. Viseu is believed as one of the possible birthplaces of their son
Afonso Henriques, the first official Portuguese monarch, in 1109. Following the successful defense of his hereditary rights, and supported by nobles and clergy, Afonso Henriques founded the kingdom of Portugal. Viseu was granted a new charter 1187, that was later reinforced by his grandson, King
Afonso II of Portugal, in 1217. During the
1383–85 Crisis, the city was besieged by the forces of
Juan I of Castile, leading to King
John I of Portugal starting construction on a series of defensive fortifications which would continue being built until the reign of King
Afonso V of Portugal. The city became part of a fiefdom, when
Prince Henry the Navigator, son of King
John I of Portugal, was made
Duke of Viseu, in 1415. In 1475,
Vasco Fernandes, a famed artist of the
Portuguese Renaissance, was born in the city, In 1513, King
Manuel I of Portugal renewed the charter of Viseu and a series of works were taken on throughout the city, with the opening of the first square of the city, the
Rossio. In the 19th century, a new Municipal Palace was built in the Rossio, significantly altering the flow of the city, moving it away from the medieval center to newer parts of the city. ==Geography==