Marriage Made in Heaven

Depending on the location and the time period, wealthy people might decide to buy or build a big house or a villa, a manor or even a palace. However, it's hard to imagine too many individuals choosing to acquire a castle, unless compelled to. Castles are, by definition, a "large, fortified buildings", and living in them implies having a rather good reason to feel unsafe. That's why castles are protected by thick walls and donjons, and surrounded with moats - handmade defenses the owners can plan for and build. What no human being, however rich and influential, can control is topography. As a result, many castles - including such famous ones as Osaka in Japan and Bunratty in Ireland - are situated on level ground that facilitates a siege. As opposed, any area that leaves potential enemy's forces with a literal mountain to climb, provides the defenders with a significant head start. The castle in Lisbon, (on the cover picture) famous for being a "city of the seven hills", is a prominent example of such an advantage. Strategically located, it became both a silent witness and a co-creator of every twist and turn of Lisbon's and Portuguese history. 

The Lisbon castle emerged in the 2d century BC as a fortified part of Olissipo - a typical Roman settlement, not unlike Conimbriga (even if bigger). Protected by the might of the Empire, Olissipo enjoyed peace and prosperity for about 6 centuries. That might be the reason for the main area of the settlement-turned-town to be located on the slopes leading to the castle.

The art attached to the ancient site is even more impressive but it must be a later addition

Eventually, Olissipo did change hands but not before the Roman world as a whole was overwhelmed by Germanic tribes. The latter's rule, known as the Visigothic Kingdom, was much shorter but rather stable for about 200 years it lasted. Consequently, the Visigoths kept adding to the castle and improving it at a leisurely pace. Once again, their kingdom collapsed as a whole, following the Moorish invasion, and it was due to the Moors that the Lisbon castle ultimately turned from a "spectator" to a "co-creator".

Thwarted at the Battle of Tours and facing a wall of Christian countries, the Islamic Khalifate must have realized that a pushback would inevitably come, sooner or later. As it happened, it came later - and the Umayyads and the subsequent dynasties had more than 400 years to prepare. And prepare they did - first and foremost by turning the castle of Al-Uxbuna (arguably, as a sign of respect, the new rulers adapted the name given by the old ones) into more or less what it is now. 

Those walls and arrowslits were ready to withstand a real siege when it finally happened in 1147.

It would be too controversial to call the 1147 siege of Lisbon one of the finest moments in Portuguese history but it definitely was one of the most significant ones. What was supposed to be a straightforward attempt by the budding nation to reclaim its territory, acquired incidental religious connotations because of a chance encounter between Portuguese forces and those of crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. Tempted by Portuguese commander-in-chief and encouraged by Pope Eugenius III, the crusaders agreed to join in the siege. Having access to water, the castle stood tall and held off the attackers for almost 4 months, every attempt to break through beaten back decisively. It was a lack of food that eventually forced the defenders to negotiate, and the negotiations were much facilitated by the 713 Treaty of Theodemir. Portugal remembered. As a result, relatively honourable conditions of surrender, safe passage included, were agreed upon but partially broken by the crusaders. While a number of lives was lost, the toll proved to be much less heavy than it would arguably have been but for the Treaty.

The Castle of Lisbon withstood several more sieges between the 14th and 16 centuries to help Portugal assert its sovereignty against the Spanish neighbour. Throughout its existence, the structure served as a royal palace, military barracks, a hospital and even a prison - before becoming the city's most recognizable historical landmark attracting multiple visitors and...quite a few peacocks, 

both contributing to immaterial but palpable aura of a phenomenon that started as a common fortification - only to grow into a symbol that perfectly fits the city it had meant to protect. A marriage made in Heaven.