Coimbra
[key], city, capital of Coimbra dist., W central Portugal, on the Mondego
River, in Beira Litoral. The old capital of Beira, it is a market center
with small industries but is known chiefly for its history and for the
famous university, which was founded (1292) by King Diniz in Lisbon but was
moved temporarily to Coimbra in 1308 and permanently in 1540. Coimbra, then
known as Conimbriga, was an important town in Roman days. It continued to
flourish down through Moorish times and after its Christian recovery (1047)
by Ferdinand I of León. It became the capital of Alfonso I, first
king of Portugal, and continued as an important royal residence after the
capital was transferred to Lisbon in the 13th cent. There is a fine
12th-century cathedral. Inés de Castro was murdered there (1355).
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