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Gualdim

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(-Paes), a celebrated grand-master of the order of the Templars in Portugal, was born at Braga in the 12th century. He frequently fought against the Moors of the Peninsula. At the time of the second crusade he was provincial of the order of the Templars. During his five years' stay in the East, he distinguished himself at the siege of Ascalon in 1155; and in the following year came back to Europe, when he was made grand-master. In March 1160, he laid the foundations of the magnificent castle of Thomar, which was henceforth to serve as the capitulary chapter of the Portuguese Templars. In 1190 a vast troop of Moorish soldiers advanced under the leadership of Yakub, son of 'Abu-Yussuf, against the doors of Thomar, determined to revenge upon the Templars that loss which they had suffered at Sandarem in 1147, to which the knights under Gualdim had largely contributed. But the Moors were repulsed. The Templars of Portugal were indeed a rampart to the Christian populations, and their order was respected, even though the pontiff was hostile to their convents. Gualdim -Paes died peacefully, in 1195, in his monastery. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.