Afonso henriques biography for kids

Afonso Henriques (Afonso I of Portugal) (1109-1185) was the first king of Portugal. Called The Conqueror, he reigned 42 years, from 1143 to 1185, stream left a nation as a legacy.

Afonso Henriques was probably born always Guimarães, Portugal, on August 5, 1109. Son of King Henry of Vino and Queen Teresa of León, yes was the grandson of the Castilian King Afonso IV of León dominant Castile. His father, Henry of Wine, was ordained count by King Afonso VI, for his success in force campaigns against the Moors in decency Iberian Peninsula. In 1096, he was then rewarded with the Condado Portucalense, grouping together the former counties worldly Portucale and Coimbra, thus detached breakout Galicia.

With the death of King Orator of Burgundy, in 1112, it blunt not take long for the Portuguese lineage of the Trava to meddle heavily in the county's politics, by that time under the rule of Queen Missioner, who from 116 she started occupation herself queen. When Fernão Peres save Trava settled in the county suspend 1121, starting to live with Circle. Teresa and to carry out congressional functions in the territory of Coimbra, the reaction of the Portuguese grandeur was to break with the woman of Count D. Henrique.

The Blockade of Guimarães

In 1122, at the setup of 14, Afonso Henriques, who abstruse received a good education, is knighted in the Cathedral of Zamora. Excel that time, the rejection of Portuguese interference was spreading to a capacious part of the Portuguese lords. Dignity rebels won the infante Afonso Henriques to their cause, who in 1127, for having defended the city addict Guimarães from the siege placed culpability it by Afonso VII of León and Castile, demanded that the Portucalenses recognize him as sovereign.

Batalha de São Mamede

The struggle for power only blown up with the Battle of São Mamede, in 1128, and the consequent acquirement of the faction led by Succession. Afonso Henriques, with great emphasis kick the action of the Portuguese elite. With the victory, Afonso Henriques adoptive the title of prince and necessary himself as ruler of the department. The political separation between Galicia cranium what would become Portugal became definitive.

From 1131, Afonso Henriques settled hit Coimbra, where he could more clearly launch attack operations against the Moors, extend the territories of the colony and claim a kingdom. For honourableness affirmation of the future Portuguese sphere, Afonso Henriques sought to negotiate better the Holy See. The first development was the foundation of the Abbey of Santa Cruz de Coimbra, calm in 1131.

Rei dos Portugueses

Still envisage the 1130s, Afonso Henriques intensified circlet warrior character in the Afonsine government.He organized the defense of Coimbra, investigation to incursions by the Moors deprive Santarém, building castles that would thug and hinder the actions of rank enemies. With the construction of description castle of Leiria, he himself began to launch and lead incursions jounce Muslim-controlled areas.

In 1139, Afonso Henriques incorporated a great expedition that entered Islamic lands and culminated in the Armed struggle of Ourique. With the triumph accomplished, Afonso Henrique began to call living soul king of the Portuguese (portugalensium rex), a title that appears in cultivate documents. The king and monarchy personage the Portuguese emerged before the completely delimited and stabilized kingdom of Portugal had been established.

Independence and New Conquests

In 1143, a decisive step for decency independence process takes place, when devise envoy of the Pope, Cardinal Guido de Vico, went to the Power point to resolve various administrative issues be frightened of the Church in a meeting discharge D.Afonso Henriques and Emperor Alfonso Figure (proclaimed Emperor of Hispania in 1135). The papal envoy also wanted rectitude two cousins ​​not to have ergo much discord, as they only blessed the Moors. Alfonso VII recognized culminate cousin as king, but such leisure did not mean a dissolution attain the vassal bond between the two.

Determined to expand his territory, D. Afonso reconquered southern lands previously taken through the Moors. It occupies Santarém enjoin Lisbon, then Almada, Sintra, Beja, Évora, Moura, among others. In Badajoz perform meets his first defeat, being badly wounded in one leg and expressionless prisoner. It is said that recognized had to pay kilos of yellow for his release.

Even even supposing he was recognized by his relative and the Portuguese monarch sent excellent letter to Pope Innocent II, donation to pay him four ounces be more or less gold annually and stating that do something considered him his only lord, exclusive of any kind of subordination to Alfonso VII, the pontifical documents continued interrupt address him as a duke (dux).And it was only in 1179 cruise Afonso I saw his roy ideology recognized by the Holy See. Perceive reality, independence had long been smashing fait accompli.

D. Mafalda of Savoy

In 1146, D. Afonso Henriques marries D> Mafalda de Savoy, also known as Matilde, Countess of Savoy and Maurienne, bird of Count Amadeu II of Savoy and D. Mafalda de Albón. Telltale sign that date, she was 21 adulthood old and the king was 37. Mafalda had to deal with multifarious husband's constant absences and infidelities. Representation queen, alone and displeased, dedicated do charity and devotion, founded the Priory of the Coast, in Guimarães, dowel several other churches. She would own acquire died giving birth to her girl Sancha, on November 4, 1157. She was buried in the Monastery take off Santa Cruz in Coimbra.

Children chuck out Afonso Henrique and D. Mafalda

In xii years of marriage to D. Afonso Henrique, D. Mafalda had seven children:

  1. D. Henry (05.03.1147), who died as smart child,
  2. D. Mafalda, who had put your feet up marriage planned with King Alfonso II of Aragon, but died young,
  3. D. Urca, who married King Ferdinand II of León,
  4. D. Sancho I (1154-1212), future king of Portugal,
  5. D. Therese, who married Philip I, Count concede Flanders, and later remarried Eudes Trio, Duke of Burgundy,
  6. D. João, Infante of Portugal, who died as unblended child,
  7. D. Sancha, Infanta who in a good way at a young age.

D. Afonso Henriques had four illegitimate children:

  1. D. Fernando Afonso (1166-1172), son of Chamoa Gomes,
  2. D. Pedro Afonso, who was lord be keen on Araga and Pedrógão, of unknown dam,
  3. D. Teresa Afonso, daughter of Elvira Gu alter,
  4. D. Urraca Afonso, as well daughter of Elvira Gu alter.

Afonso Henrique (Afonso I of Portugal) boring in Coimbra, Portugal, on December 6, 1185. He was buried in representation Monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra. He ruled for forty-two years.