CHAVES

chaves, a town of northern portugal, in the district of villa real, formerly included in the province of traz os montes; 8 m. s. of the spanish frontier, on the right bank of the river tamega. pop. (1900) 6388. chaves is the ancient _aquae flaviae_, famous for its hot saline springs, which are still in use. a fine roman bridge of 18 arches spans the tamega. in the 16th century chaves contained 20,000 inhabitants; it was long one of the principal frontier fortresses, and in fact derives its present name from the position which makes it the "keys," or _chaves_, of the north. one of its churches contains the tomb of alphonso i. of portugal (1139-1185). in 1830 the town gave the title of marquess to pinto da fonseca, a leader of the miguelite party.