Cat's Historical Doodles

Tamar (Georgian: თამარი, Tamari) was born circa 1160 to George III, King of Georgia, and his wife, Burdukhan of Alania. The name Tamar is of Hebrew origin and, like other biblical names, was favoured by the Georgian Bagrationi dynasty because of their claim to be descended from David, the second King of Israel. Tamar's youth coincided with a major upheaval in Georgia. In 1177, her father was confronted by a rebellious faction of nobles. The intention was to dethrone George III in favour of the King's nephew, Demna, who was considered by many to be a legitimate royal heir of his murdered father, David V. Demna's cause was just a pretext for the nobles to, led by the pretender's father-in-law Ivane Orbeli, to weaken the crown. George III managed to crush the revolt and embarked on a repression campaign on the defiant aristocratic clans. Ivane Orbeli was put to death and the surviving family was driven out of Georgia. Demna was castrated and blinded on his uncle'...

Teresa (aka Tarasia or Tareja) was born on 4 October 1178 in Coimbra, Portugal. She was the oldest daughter of King Sancho I of Portugal and his wife, Dulce of Aragon. Teresa became Queen of León after her marriage to Alfonso IX of León. They would have three children: Infanta Dulce, Infanta Sancha and Infante Ferdinand. Ferdinand was, at the time, the heir apparent to the throne and remained so until his death, in 1214. However, this marriage was declared invalid because Teresa and Alfonso were first cousins. She returned to Portugal, where she lived at the monastery of Lorvão. This monastery was formerly under Benedictine rule, but Teresa converted it into a Cistercian convent with over 300 nuns. When her father died, Teresa should have received the Castle of Montemor-o-Velho and all the income there produced, as stated in Sancho I's testament. However, her brother (and new king) Afonso II wanted to centralise power and prevented his sister from receiving what was ri...

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...