The Judge of Soajo

Once upon a time...

In medieval times, in what is now the Peneda-Gerês National Park , more precisely in the village of Soajo , there was a judge known to the people for his intelligence, shrewdness, and sense of justice: Ti Saramalho.

The region was marked by cross-border conflicts , but also by disputes between inhabitants, whether over issues related to irrigation water or romantic disagreements. Given this, it was common for the natives to resolve their problems "the old-fashioned way," often resulting in extreme situations, such as homicides.

One day, while Ti Saramalho was traveling to his hometown, he witnessed a murder with his own eyes, becoming an eyewitness. From that moment on, unjust accusations began to surface, aiming to incriminate an innocent man to exonerate the true culprit. Aware of the accused's innocence, but also conscious of the incriminating evidence, Judge Ti Saramalho, unable to intervene directly as a witness, had to use his intelligence to save the innocent man. As such, he crafted a sentence that reflects the essence of Soajeira:

"Whether he dies or not dies, whether he is tied in a knot that won't come undone, or whether he is banished for life and given a hundred years to prepare."

The imposition of this sentence caused great commotion among the inhabitants, raising a strong controversy about the meaning of the sentence. Faced with such an outcry and the appeal filed by the victim's family, Ti Saramalho was summoned to the Porto Court of Appeal to explain the sentence. Riding to the port of Viana do Castelo, and sailing by caravel to Porto, that was how Ti Sarramalho traveled.

Upon arriving at the courthouse, in addition to a prolonged wait, when invited to participate in the hearing, he was disrespectfully kept standing, without being offered a chair. This gesture, probably motivated by Ti Saramalho's more rural appearance, or a sense of superiority, did not faze him. Naturally, the judge folded his black robe and used it as an improvised seat.

During the hearing, in response to questions from those present, Ti Saramalho, with his sharp intelligence, clearly and astutely explained the reasons for the sentence handed down, which aimed to make the man an unconvicted convict, even though he was not the one who murdered the victim.

Fascinated by this verdict, and by the way Ti Sarramalho presented his defense, he was thus granted the right to appeal the decision. As he left the hearing, an official ran after Ti Sarramalho to return the cloak that had been used as a chair. Politely and with a firm posture, Ti Sarramalho stated:

"Judge of Soajo, the chair he sat in, he never took with him."

This response was Ti Sarramalho's way of criticizing the attitude of those involved at the Porto Court of Appeal for not treating him with the respect and deference that his position deserved.

Representação teatral Juiz de Soajo

The Phrases of Ti Sarramalho

Phrase: "Whether he dies or not, whether he is tied in a knot that won't come undone, or whether he is banished for life and given a hundred years to prepare."

Meaning: Since the accused of the crime was innocent, Ti Sarramalho arranged a sentence so that he would never be imprisoned in his lifetime, saying that he would have 100 years to prepare, meaning he probably wouldn't even be alive anymore.

Phrase: "Judge of Soajo, the chair in which he sat, he never took with him."

Meaning: Have you ever been to someone's house and taken their chair with you? No, right? That was Ti Sarramalho's way of demonstrating the carelessness of the person who received him, thus creating a legend.

What to visit in Soajo?