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Monsaraz é uma freguesia portuguesa do concelho de Reguengos de Monsaraz, com 88,29 km² de área e 782 habitantes (2011). A sua densidade populacional é de 8,9 h/km².
Monsaraz repousa junto ao Guadiana no cimo de uma colina que se ergue na planície alentejana. Foi conquistada aos Mouros em 1167 por Geraldo sem-pavor tendo sido entregue aos templários por D.Sancho II para sua defesa e povoamento.
A vila de Monsaraz foi conquistada aos mouros, em 1167, pelos homens de Geraldo Sem Pavor. O primeiro foral veio a ser concedido por D. Afonso III, em 15 de Janeiro de 1276. O castelo de Monsaraz desempenhou ao longo dos séculos o papel de sentinela do Guadiana, vigiando a fronteira com Castela. A vila chegou a administrar três freguesias: a Matriz de Santa Maria da Lagoa, Santiago e São Bartolomeu.
O castelo de Monsaraz desempenhou durante séculos o papel de posto de vigia do Guadiana, de onde se podia observar a fronteira com Castela. Foi sede do concelho até 1838, quando esta função passou para a freguesia de Reguengos.
(Infomação retirada de [Roteiro do Alqueva])
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Due to its geographic position, the hilltop of Monsaraz always occupied an important place in the history of the municipality, having been occupied by different peoples since the pre-historical record. It is one of the oldest Portuguese settlements of the southern Portugal, occupied since pre-history, whose examples of permanent habitation include hundreds of megalithic monuments. These include the neolithic remains of: Megalithic Monuments of Herdade de Xerez, Olival da Pega Dolmen (Anta), Bulhoa Menhir, Rocha dos Namorados Menhir and Outeiro Menhir. The hill, on which the main settlement is located, was a pre-historic fortification, or castro, that was the basis of pre-Roman occupation and funerary temples, carved from the local rock.
Monsaraz was reorganized during the Roman occupation, but later successively occupied by the Visigoths, Arabs, Mozarabs, Jews, and, after the Reconquista, Christians loyal to Afonso Henriques. In the 8th century, Monsaraz fell under the dominion of Arab forces who occupied the Iberian Peninsula, becoming known as Saris or Sharish, and following the control of the Taifa of Badajoz (one of the more prominent Arab centres at the time).The name Monsaraz originates from the word Xarez or Xerez, the Iberian transliteration of the Arabic Saris or Sharish, for the Gum Rockrose (Cistus ladanifer L.), a plant that still today prospers in poor, dry, acidic slate-based soil that surrounds Monsaraz. The Iberian words Xarez/Xerez latter evolved to the Portuguese Xaraz and to the Spanish {Castilian) Jerez (the Spanish name for the sherry wine). The settlement that became Monsaraz, originated from the Monte Xaraz, a fortified hill surrounded by Gum Rockroses. It is natural position, the highest hill in the area and proximity to the deep Guadiana valley, made it a location of strategic importance
In 1167, the Castle and medina was taken by Geraldo Sem Pavor, in an expedition that came from Évora (which had just been retaken, about the same time). After, Afonso Henriques' defeat in Badajoz, Monsaraz was once again taken by Muslim forces. In 1232, supported by the Knights Templar, King Sancho II definitively retook the citadel and town, placing it under the control of the Templars, and obligating them to establish a garrison that would protect the border. The Christian repopulation of Monsaraz ended around the reign of Afonso III, when it was assigned an alcalde, the knight Martim Anes, and first letter of foral.
In 1263 it was already an important fortress, being the head of a municipality, with large privileges. The local economy was fundamentally based on agriculture and livestock, existing some small artesnal industries producing terra cotta earthenware and hammered copper.
(Text from Wikipedia)
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