1st half of I a. C. - Sellium (Tomar), Roman city established by the emperor August

VI – VII century - Certifications of Visigoth art in Tomar

X - XI century - Presence of decorative Mozarab elements

1135 - "Warlike misfortune" suffered by the Christian forces next to the current city of Tomar; it is used here for the first time this toponym: "infortunium super christianos in Thomar".

1159 - D. Afonso Henriques donates to the Templars the Castle of Ceras, in order to populate it.

1160 (1st March) - Foundation of the Templar Castle of Tomar by D. Gualdim Pais.

1162 (November) - D. Gualdim gives charter letter to the futures populators of Tomar.

1190 - The King of Morocco Abu Yusuf Yakub, commanding a considerable number of knights and soldiers, is obliged to raise the siege of Tomar after six days of heroic defence on the part of the reduced number of besieged. The exploit of the Templars seemed of such form on-human being, that a tablet in the Castle still today perpetuates the fact, relates to 400 000 knights and 500 000 soldiers on the part of the aggressors, number presently considered impossible, considering the population of the time.

1195 - Death of D. Gualdim Pais, buried in the Church of Saint Maria of Tomar, later "of the Olival".

XIII century - Reconstruction of the Church of Saint Maria Olival by the gothic traces, during the reign of D. Afonso III.

1319 (14 March) - By proposal of D. Dinis, the Pope John XXII institutes, by the Papal brief "Ad ea exquibus", the Order of Ours Lord Jesus Christ, to which are donated all the goods of the Templars. The new Order is installed in Castro Marim, being attributed to it the Rule of S. Bento.

1357 - The Order returns to Tomar by request of the monks. Junction in Tomar of the forces of D. João I and D. Nuno Álvares Pereira to going to Aljubarrota. In this place was later raised, in memory, a commemorative standard and the Manuelin Chapel of S. Lourenço.

1420 - Infant D. Enrique receives the master of the Order of Christ with the heading of "Governor and Administrator of the Order".

1421 - Infant D. Enrique creates the first frank fair in Tomar.

1430 - 1460 - Construction of the Synagogue of Tomar, ordered by Infant D. Henrique.

1438 (9 September) - King D. Duarte is victimised by the plague.

1456 (13 March) - Pope Calisto III grants to the Cavalry of Christ the spiritual of discovered lands, as territories nullius diocesis.

1467 - Beginning of the restoration of the Church of S. João Baptista.

1510 - D. Manuel I creates the Mercy of Tomar.

Diogo de Arruda initiates the construction of the "House of the Chapter" in the Convent of Christ and executes the famous windows.

1510 (May) - D. Manuel grants Tomar its new charter.

1515 - João of Castilho finishes the construction of the vault in the "Room of the Chapter" at the Convent of Christ, as well as the monumental porch of access.

1521 - D. João III remains in Tomar during about two months. Of this stay the reform of the Order of Christ will result, of his inspiration.

1521 (March) - Reference in the Manuelins Ordinances (Volume V - Heading 5) to the "Parties of the Trays of the Holy Spirit", as only modality of "distribution of food and money to the poor" not forbidden.

1523 - Representation in the Convent of Christ, before King D. João III, of the Humbug of Ines Pereira of Gil Vicente, according to Amorim Rosa inspired in personages from Tomar.

1530 (24 June) - Beginning of the Reformation of the Order of Christ, by the strong hand of friar Jerónim António de Lisboa. The friars then resident in the Convent had been reduced to the clause and regular observance.

1536 - Reformation of the Church of Saint Iria by João de Castilho.

Beginning of the residence in Tomar by the painter Gregorio Lopes, who remains till 1541, period where he paints the panels of the retable of S. João Baptista.

1540 - João de Castilho initiates the construction of the Cloister of the Micha, the first one of the series of cloisters of its traces existing in the Convent of Christ.

1543 (6 May) – 1st Auto-of-Faith in Tomar: of the 14 penitents, 3 had been "relaxed to secular arm" (deceased for the fire) one of the 8 penitents, Brites Gonçalves, "for pertinacious and heretic".

1544 (20 June) - 2º Auto-of-Faith in Tomar: of the 14 penitents, 3 had been "relaxed", all they New Christians and habitants in Tomar.

1550 - João de Castilho initiates the construction of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, in Tomar, which would come to be concluded by Diogo de Torralva and which was destined to the real tomb of D. João III, intention that came to miscarry and only recently came to be recognized, in sequence of the studies of Rafael Moreira.

1550 - 1551 - Diverse visits of D. João III, "to verify the workmanships where he wanted to be buried", according to manuscript kept in the British Museum.

1551 (30 December) - Pope Julio III, for the papal brief "Praeclara clarissima" grants to the Portuguese Crown, definitively, the master of the Military Orders of Christ, Avis and Santiago.

1554 - Diogo de Torralva executes the risk and initiates the construction of the Main Cloister, or of D. João III, of the Convent of Christ, who would come to be concluded by Filipe Terzi and Pedro Fernandes Torres, already on the Filipine domain.

1567 (22 April) - Granted to Tomar the one of "Notable Village", by the Regent of the Kingdom, Cardinal D. Henrique, based on the fact of having been " Roman City, Court of many Kings, great population and numerous palaces".

1581 (16 April) - Oath and acclamation of Filipe I before the Courts congregated in Tomar.

1581 (20 April) - Solemn opening of the Courts of Tomar.

1593 - Beginning is given to the construction of the Pegões Altos, destined to the supplying of the Convent of Christ, according to the risk of Filipe Terzi and concluded in 1613 by Pedro Fernandes Torres.

1609 (August) - The Chamber of Tomar send to the one of Lisbon a letter excusing itself of not being able to contribute for the festivities that were being prepared to receive Filipe II, "(...) because this village is the most miserable, inasmuch more than 50 men of nation are imprisoned by the Holy Office (Christian-new), and absentees much more, which were mui rich, and in whose treatment it was all the money of this people. Moreover, the excessively living ones have few farms and these all taxed to the Convent of who are the best incomes and of the Commentators, which are many, for being lands of the Order of Christ (...)".

1625 (7 September) - Beginning of the construction of the Convent of S. Francisco, in the Great Lea of Tomar.

1626 - Filipe III authorizes the creation of the Fair of Saint Iria, to carry through annually, in 20 of October. More than three and half passed centuries, it is still today a great festivity of the City.

1640 (9 December) - Proclaimed the Restoration, in Tomar.

1649 - D. João IV visits Tomar.

1669 (20 February) - It passes for Tomar, where it spends the night, the inheriting prince of the Toscana, Cosme de Médicis, later Cosme III, followed of numerous and luxurious company. Pier Maria Baldi, its companion, sketches the famous aquarelle with the general sight of Tomar, a unique iconographic document, almost "photographic".

1699 (20 January) - D. Pedro II grants the license that institutes the weekly market of Tomar, to carry through at Sundays, which, later, passed to Saturdays and, more recently, for fridays. It has the pretty age of 291 years.

1701 - According to Priest António de Carvalho da Costa, in its Chorographia Portugueza, Tomar had, in this date, 900 inhabitants.

1709 (1 - 7 November) - Stay of D. Pedro II in Tomar, waiting the arrival of Archduke Carlos III of Austria, candidate to the Spanish throne in the picture of the War of the Succession of Spain. The illustrious ally of Portugal did not visited this City, due to "overflowing of the rivers", being the meeting realised, days later, in Leiria.

1714 - Stay of D. João V in Tomar, followed of its brothers, D. António and D. Manuel. Repairing of diverse constructions, commanded for the King: mills and presses of the River of the Village and Bridge D. Manuel, today "Old Bridge", where a statue of S Cristovão was placed, presently stored in the Cloister of the Launderings of the Convent of Christ.

1759 (24 March) - License of D. Maria I delivering the administration of the woollen Plant of Stockings and Cotton of Noel Lemaître, to Jácome Ratton and Timóteo Verdier, which served of base to the Real Plant of Wiring and Fabrics, until some months ago labouring as the oldest plant of wiring of the world still in functioning. Its probable extinguishing will be a loss of weight for the historical Portuguese industrial patrimony.

1789 - 1792 - The Reformation of the Statutes of the Order of Christ, through diverse legislation of D. Maria I.

1807 (27 November) - Entrance in Taking of the troops of the Spanish division of Junot, commanded by D. Juan Carrafa, who imposes a contribution in money and solicitation of victuals. Short permanence in the City.

1808 (9 July) - End of the revolt days before started in Taking, delivering the patriots the weapons to Ângela Tamagnini, refusing to deliver them to Margaron, commander of the occupation forces. The actuation of that brilliant negotiator hindered any retaliation on the part of the Frenchmen.

1808 (11 August) - Arrived to Tomar of the forces of Loison, said "the One-handed", however without material consequences. Withdrawal of the French ones marks the end of 1st Invasion.

1808 (November) - Creation of the Regiment of the Military services of Tomar.

1808 (January) - General Miranda Henriques, person in charge of the defense of the region of Beira Baixa, establishes its general-quarter in Tomar.

1809 (8 April) - Beresford establishes in Tomar its general-quarter, for reorganization of the Portuguese army.

1809 (June) - Wellesley establishes general-quarter in Tomar, banished the French forces of 2nd Invasion.

1810 (7 October) - Drawn out stay in Tomar by the troops of Ney, entrances in Portugal with 3rd French Invasion.

1811 (7 March) - The troops of Ney, in withdrawal, pillage Tomar. Probable destruction of the magnificent chair of the Choir of the Convent of Christ and the Workshop of S. Lourenço and of the Meadow.

1822 (23 October) - First Chamber of Tomar elect for popular vote, in the picture of the Constitution of 1822.

1823 (31 May) - The Vilafrancada of D. Miguel knocks down the elect Chamber.

1833 (14 May) - The liberal troops enter in Tomar, substituting again the new Municipal Senate.

1834 (16 May) - Defeat of the absolutists troops in the battle of the Asseiceira (administrative subdivision of Tomar) guarantees the power of the liberal ones.

1834 - Extinguishing of the Religious Orders and sell of the respective goods. In Tomar it is designated the sell of the Convent of Christ and of the Farm of Seven Mounts, to the future Marquis of Tomar, António da Costa Cabral, in 1837, for 5 000$00. Its grandson came to put the said properties in auction, having been acquired for the State, for 560.000$00, ran the year of 1936.

Created the first cemetery of the Administrative division of Tomar, in the churchyard of the Church of Ours Lady of Conceição of the Olalhas.

1836 - Creation of the Plant of Paper of the Prado, by reconversion of the old Workshop of the Prado.  However, the license that authorized it already had been passed 64 years before, for the fist of the Marquis of Pombal.

1843 (14 May) - Proposal of the creation of the District of Tomar, in the scope of the administrative reorganization then in course.  The representation did not occasion any effect.

1843 (28 October) - First visit of D. Maria II to Tomar.  The Chamber requests her the rise of Village to City.

1844 (13 February) - License of D. Maria II raising Tomar to City.

1845 (4 September) - Second visit of D. Maria II to Tomar.

1846 (20 May) - Beginning of the revolt of Tomar, seconding the Mob anti-cabralist.

1857 (2 October) - Establishment of the relation between the measures and traditional weights of the Administrative Division of Tomar and the decimal system.

1866 (25 September) – Fails a second attempt of constitution of the District of Tomar.

1879 (2 February) - Appears the first periodical of Tomar "the Emancipation", directed by Angelina Vidal and Luís Augusto Pereira Campeão.

1881 (30 September) - Extinct the of Tomar, passing its Administrative Division for the Patriarchate of Lisbon.

1882 (8 March) - Inaugurated the Plant of Paper of Porto de Cavaleiros.

1883 (29 August) - A great fire destroys the Plant of Wiring of Tomar, only saving the House of the Turbine and the deposits of cotton in rude.  However and passed 2 years, was already   reconstructed "at the modern way" and endowed with modern equipment.

1884 (May) - Created the School Jácome Ratton of Industrial Drawing.

1918 (15 May) - Established the Union of the Friends of the Monuments of the Order of Christ by Garcês Teixeira, Vieira Guimarães, Jose Brak-Lami and Arruda Pereira, among others. 

In "Historical Script - Images of Tomar"

Coordination of Carlos Veloso and Salete da Ponte

Other dates

1772 - Foundation of the Plant of the Prado

1869 - Foundation of the "Club Thomarense", older collectivity of Tomar still in functioning in the Corredoura (the main street of Tomar).

1874 - Foundation of the Society Republican Martial Band Nabantina

1879 (2 Febraury) - Is born the press of Tomar with the publication of the first number of the republican periodical “The Emancipation", directed by Angelina Vidal and Luís Augusto Pereira Campeão. 

1878 -  Foundation of the Philharmonic Society Gualdim Pais

1895 - 14-16 of October – It’s realised in Tomar the II Socialist Conference, which approves a partisan program of the authorship of Azedo Gneco.

December of 1900 - It starts to function the Power Plant of Tomar that brings the public illumination to the City. 

1901 - First session of cinema in Tomar, in the extinct Nabantino Theater. 

1906 - 30 of June – Takes place in Tomar the Extraordinary Conference of PSP (Socialist Party). 

1914 - Foundation of the Union of Tomar.

1922 - Foundation of the Body of Public Salvation of Tomar (Firemen)

1928 - Inauguration of the Railroad Branch of Tomar.

1931 -  Foundation of the Colleges Nuno Álvares

1940 - Inauguration of the statue of D. Gualdim Pais in the Square of Republic

1943 - Foundation of the House of the Administrative Division of Tomar in Lisbon

1945 - Foundation of Grouping 44 of the National Body of Scouts – Tomar

1951 - Inauguration of the Dam of the Castle of Bode

1957 - Foundation of the Cooperative Cellar of Tomar

1961 - Inauguration of the Municipal Swimming Pool Vasco Jacob

1967 - Inauguration of the Hotel of the Templars

1973 – 1st National Congress of ANP (National Popular Association) in Tomar.

1977 -  Foundation of the Cooperative of Economic Habitation Nabância

1979 – 1st show of the Group of Theatre Fatias de Cá (Slices of Here, alluding to the typical sweet of the city, Slices of Tomar)

1982 - Taken of ownership of  the1st Installing Commission of the Superior School of Technology of Tomar (current Polytechnic Institute of Tomar)

1983 - Convent of Christ is classified world-wide patrimony by UNESCO

1984 - Beginning of the pirates emissions of the Hertz Radio, first station of Tomar

We accept suggestions to complete this chronology.

Compilation of José Gaio Dias (jgaio@iol.pt)

Periodical "The Templar" - Tomar