Tomás das Quingostas

Once upon a time…

Not long ago, in the mountains of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, a legend arose that echoed through the medieval highland villages. It told of a controversial character named Tomás Joaquim Codeço, better known to all as the Lion of the Mountains or Tomás das Quingostas.

The legend begins on August 15, 1808, when Tomás—the fifth child of José Codesso and Maria Teresa de Castro—was born in the lands of Melgaço. As he grew up, he became a supporter of Dom Miguel during the Liberal Wars and took part in combat. However, his life later took a dark turn, and he became a fearsome outlaw bandit, described by some as a kind of Robin Hood.

Tomás das Quingostas formed and led a dreaded gang of around forty men who terrorized the border villages of both Portugal and Galicia. It was said that he robbed the rich and, in an almost noble gesture, distributed part of the loot among the poor. His fame spread quickly, making him a figure to be feared.

Armed with his deep knowledge of the terrain and supported by the local population, Tomás das Quingostas escaped countless ambushes set by the authorities. His remote hideouts, such as Pena de Anamão in Castro Laboreiro, provided him with the isolation he needed to plan his raids and evade capture.

On a rainy, foggy night, on March 21, 1829, a tragic event occurred. João Vicente, a calm and generous young man from Melgaço, fell victim to Tomás das Quingostas’ gang, suffering a violent attack that cost him his life.

The legend takes on even darker tones when, during the Peneda pilgrimage in 1838, Tomás das Quingostas and his gang disrupted the religious festivities, spreading panic. They shot and killed Joaquim Cerqueira, a skilled jogo do pau fighter from Gavieira, and João Manuel Domingues, the president of the town of Soajo.

Tomás das Quingostas’ life came to a turning point on January 30, 1839, when, after numerous exploits and escapes, he was captured in the tavern of his friend Policarpo José de Fontes. Near the Alote Bridge, Tomás das Quingostas was executed by firing squad after attempting to escape.

The legend endures, telling that in Galicia the expression “Os pobres non o ten e os ricos non o dan” (“The poor don’t have it, and the rich don’t give it”) is associated with Tomás, suggesting that he did not rob the poor. In Melgaço, until the early 20th century, people would say “You’re worse than Tomás” as an insult. And so Tomás das Quingostas—a complex figure—remains alive in legend, carrying with him the duality of being both villain and hero, depending on the perspective of the storyteller.