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 183o the town gave the title of marquess to Pinto da Fonseca, a leader of the Miguelite party .