Chaves

Chaves occupies the fertile valley of the Tâmega near Portugal's northern frontier. The Romans knew it as Aquae Flaviae, a town of warm baths at the meeting of important roads, and built a bridge across the river. Its location made Chaves valuable to rival kingdoms, and King Denis built a castle to guard the border. During the crisis following Ferdinand I's death, nobles of Chaves supported his daughter Beatrice against the Master of Aviz, later John I. Centuries later the town was drawn into the Peninsular War. French forces under Soult captured it in 1809, but Francisco Silveira retook Chaves after the main French army moved south.