To the west of vora is the town of Montemor-o-Novo. This town is the birth place of Saint John of God (1495-1550), patron saint of Hospitals and the sick. Dom Manuel I was very fond of the town and its former castle was the largest in Portugal. There are still many buildings within the town reflecting the Manueline style of architecture.
Porus (Old Indian Puru): king in the eastern Punjab, defeated in 326 BCE by Alexander the Great. War elephant. The Greek/Latin name Porus is a rendering of the Indian Puru, the throne name of the ruler of the kingdom Paurava. This state was situated between the rivers Hydaspes (modern Jhelum) and Acesines (Chenab).
The first major battle came at Granicus not far from the crossing point used by Alexander's army. The most effective field commander for the Persian side was Memnon, the leader of the Greek mercenaries fighting for the Persian Empire. Memnon was not in favor of an immediate, direct confrontation with Alexander's forces. Memnon favored a scorched earth strategy with sporadic harrassment.