Afonso Henriques

Afonso Henriques, nicknamed "the Conqueror", was probably born on 25 July 1109, in the County of Portucale. He was the son of Henry of Burgundy and his wife Teresa, daughter of Afonso VI of León and Castile. Traditionally, it is believed he was born in Guimarães, where he lived until 1128.

After his father's death, his mother ruled the county alone. In an effort to pursue a larger share in the Leonese inheritance, Teresa joined forces with Fernão Pérez de Trava, a Galician count. In 1120, Afonso (under the direction of the Archbishop of Braga) took a different political position to that of his mother and they both left the county. In 1122, Afonso armed himself knight in the Cathedral of Zamora. When peace was re-established, Afonso returned home.

In 1128, the armies of Teresa of León and Fernão Pérez de Trava confronted the army of Afonso Henriques in the Battle of São Mamede. Afonso came out victorious: he exiled his mother and took control of the government of the county.

In 1139, after a huge victory against the Moors in the Battle of Ourique, Afonso proclaimed himself King of Portugal. In 1140, he signs for the first time: Ego Alfonsus portugalensium Rex.

The recognition from the Kingdom of León and Castile came in 1143, with the Treaty of Zamora. Afonso always tried to maintain the independence of the kingdom and tried to conquer the south, then under Moorish rule. Leiria was conquered in 1135 (final conquest happened in 1145), Santarém in 1146, Lisbon, Almada and Palmela in 1147 and Alcácer in 1160.

In 1179, the Pope Alexander III recognised Portugal as an independent country through the Manifestis Probatum bull.

After a failed siege in Badajoz, in 1169, Afonso's military career was practically over. He dedicated himself to the administration of his territories with the help of his son, Sancho. He tried to fix the population, promoted municipalities and granted foral charters. The legacy of his reign includes:

the foundation of the nationality;
the pacification of the kingdom and its enlargement through conquests;
the foundation of the Monastery of Santa Cruz, in Coimbra, in 1131.

Afonso Henriques died at the age of 76, in 1185. He is buried in the Monastery of Santa Cruz, in Coimbra.

Afonso Henriques
(replica of the original
sculpture by Soares dos Reis)

Text reviewed by: Gil Vilarinho

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