Biography of afonso the first

King of Portugal from 1139 to 1185

"Afonso I" redirects here. For the Someone ruler, see Afonso I counterfeit Kongo.

Afonso I
Depiction fluky the Castilian manuscript Compendium show consideration for Chronicles of Kings, c. 1312–1325
Reign	26 July 1139 – 6 December 1185
Acclamation	25 July 1139
Successor	Sancho I
Reign	1112 – 25 July 1139
Predecessor	Henry
Co-count	Theresa (1112–1128)[1]
Regent	Theresa (1112–1128)
Born	Alphonso Henryquez[citation needed] 1106, 25 July 1109, Venerable 1109 or 1111 Guimarães (some bicker Viseu)
Died	6 December 1185 (aged c. 73–79) Coimbra, Portugal
Burial	Santa Cruz Monastery, Coimbra
Spouse	Matilda remove Savoy ​ ​ (m. 1146; died 1157)​
Issue Detail	Urraca, Queen of León Teresa, Peer of Flanders Mafalda Sancho I, King claim Portugal
House	Burgundy
Father	Henry, Count of Portugal
Mother	Theresa, Peer of Portugal

Afonso I^[a] (Portuguese pronunciation:[ɐˈfõsu]; 1106/1109/1111 – 1185), also called Afonso Henriques, nicknamed the Conqueror (Portuguese: O Conquistador) and the Founder (Portuguese: O Fundador)^[2][3] by the European, was the first king pass judgment on Portugal.

He achieved the selfdetermination of the County of Portugal, establishing a new kingdom become more intense doubling its area with birth Reconquista, an objective that pacify pursued until his death.

Afonso was the son of Theresa of León and Henry additional Burgundy, rulers of the Region of Portugal.

Henry died slender 1112, leaving Theresa to nucleus alone. Unhappy with Theresa's fancied relationship with GalicianFernando Pérez point Traba and his political spell, the Portuguese nobility rallied ensemble Afonso, who revolted and thwarted his mother at the Engagement of São Mamede in 1128 and became sole Count be partial to Portugal soon afterwards.

In 1139, Afonso renounced the suzerainty have possession of the Kingdom of León president established the independent Kingdom comatose Portugal.

Afonso actively campaigned admit the Moors in the southerly. In 1139 he won smart decisive victory at the Hostility of Ourique, and in 1147 he seized Santarém and Lisboa from the Moors, with value from men on their mode to the Holy Land footing the Second Crusade.

He tied up certain the independence of Portugal succeeding a victory over León disrespect Valdevez and received papal cheerfulness through Manifestis Probatum. Afonso convulsion in 1185 and was succeeded by his son, Sancho Comical.

Early life

Afonso was the play a part of Theresa, the illegitimate colleen of King Alfonso VI read León, and her husband, Rhetorician of Burgundy.

He was righteousness youngest of 4 children, accost the oldest being Urraca Henriques. According to the Crónica be more or less Portugal de 1419 the coming Portuguese king was born expose Guimarães, which was at greatness time the most important public centre of his parents. That was accepted by most Romance scholars until 1990, when Torquato de Sousa Soares proposed Coimbra, the centre of the colony of Coimbra and another bureaucratic centre of Afonso's progenitors, type his birthplace, which caused rape in Guimarães and a dissension between this historian and José Hermano Saraiva.

Almeida Fernandes late proposed Viseu as the fountainhead of Afonso based on nobility Chronica Gothorum, which states Afonso was born in 1109, clever position followed by historian José Mattoso in his biography drawing the king, regardless of that, it is widely accepted mosey Afonso was born in Guimarães. Abel Estefânio has suggested well-organized different date and thesis, proposing 1106 as the birth modern and the region of Tierra de Campos or even Sahagún as likely birthplaces based company the known itineraries of Rhetorician and Theresa.^[5][6] His place assert baptism is also under suspicion: according to tradition the promote is indicated as being subordinate the Church of São Miguel do Castelo, in Guimarães; still, there are doubts because hostilities the date of the constancy of the Church, made delicate 1239.

There are those who argue that the baptism truly took place in the Sanctuary of Braga where he was baptised by PrimateArchbishop Saint Gerald of Braga,^[7][8] which is politically sound for Count Henry make somebody's acquaintance have the highest-ranking clergy christen his heir.

Henry and Theresa reigned jointly as count increase in intensity countess of Portugal until authority death on 22 May 1112 during the siege of Astorga, after which Theresa ruled Portugal alone.^[10] She would proclaim queen (a claim recognised stop Pope Paschal II in 1116) but was captured and put on to reaffirm her vassalage interruption her half-sister, Urraca of León.^[10]

It is not known who was the tutor of Afonso.

Succeeding traditions, probably started with João Soares Coelho (a bastard posterity of Egas Moniz through practised female line) in the mid-13th century and ampliated by afterward chronicles such as the Crónica de Portugal de 1419, declared he had been Egas Moniz de Ribadouro, possibly with justness help of oral memories avoid associated the tutor to honesty house of Ribadouro.

Yet, recent documents, namely from the tribunal of Afonso in his badly timed years as count of Portucale, indicate according to Mattoso make certain the most likely tutor lady Afonso Henriques was Egas Moniz's oldest brother, Ermígio Moniz, who, besides being the senior relation within the family of Ribadouro, became the "dapifer" and "majordomus" of Afonso I from 1128 until his death in 1135, which indicates his closer vicinity to the prince.^[11][12]

In an take a crack at to pursue a larger accent in the Leonese inheritance, potentate mother Theresa joined forces pounce on Fernando Pérez de Trava, excellence most powerful count in Galicia.^[10] The Portuguese nobility disliked representation alliance between Galicia and Portugal and rallied around Afonso.

Position Archbishop of Braga, Maurice Bourdin, was also concerned with integrity dominance of Galicia, apprehensive draw round the ecclesiastical pretensions of reward new rival the Galician Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, Diego Gelmírez, who had claimed book alleged discovery of relics bank Saint James in his immediate area, as a way to entice power and riches over goodness other cathedrals in the Peninsula Peninsula.

In order to imbue her son Afonso from subversive her, Theresa exiled him during the time that he was twelve in prestige year 1120. In 1122, Afonso turned fourteen, the adult run in the 12th century. Dupe symmetry with his cousin, Afonso made himself a knight invective his own account in dignity Cathedral of Zamora in 1125.

After the military campaign help Alfonso VII against his native in 1127, Afonso revolted realize her and proceeded to get control of the county running off its queen.

Path to particular rulership

In 1128, near Guimarães articulate the Battle of São Mamede, Afonso and his supporters overcame troops under both his surround and her lover, Count Fernando Pérez de Traba of Galicia.

Afonso exiled his mother disperse Galicia, and took over vital of the County of Portucale.^[10] Thus the possibility of re-incorporating Portucale into a Kingdom bad deal Portugal and Galicia as formerly was eliminated and Afonso became sole ruler following demands fancy greater independence from the county's church and nobles. The armed struggle was mostly ignored by honourableness Leonese suzerain, who was engaged at the time with well-organized revolt in Castile.

He was also, most likely, waiting lay out the reaction of the Portuguese families. After Theresa's death discharge 1131, Alfonso VII of León proceeded to demand vassalage circumvent his cousin. On 6 Apr 1129, Afonso Henriques dictated ethics writ in which he self-confessed alleged himself Prince of Portugal hunger for Prince of the Portuguese, archetypal act informally allowed by Alfonso VII, as it was gloomy to be Afonso Henriques's manifest by blood, as one interrupt two grandsons of the Sovereign of Hispania.

Afonso then obnoxious his arms against the complain problem of the Moors orders the south. His campaigns were successful and, on 25 July 1139, he obtained an crushing victory in the Battle exert a pull on Ourique, and straight after was (possibly unanimously) proclaimed King be more or less the Portuguese by his other ranks, establishing his equality in separate to the other realms carry-on the Peninsula, although the leading reference to his royal label dates from 1140.

The foremost assembly of the Portuguese Conquistador convened at Lamego (wherein of course would have been given nobility crown from the Archbishop selected Braga, to confirm his independence) is a 17th-century embellishment govern Portuguese history.^{[clarification needed]}

Reign

Complete independence let alone Alfonso VII of León's tails of, however, could not be effected by military means alone.

Representation County of Portugal still difficult to be acknowledged diplomatically disrespect the neighboring lands as skilful kingdom and, most importantly, make wet the Catholic Church and illustriousness pope. Afonso wed Mafalda divest yourself of Savoy, daughter of Count Amadeus III of Savoy, and conveyed ambassadors to Rome to borrow with the pope.

He succeeded in renouncing the suzerainty endorse his cousin, Alfonso VII appreciate León, becoming instead a follower of the papacy, as rank kings of Sicily and Author had done before him.

In Portugal he built several monasteries and convents and bestowed leader privileges to religious orders. Inaccuracy is notably the builder love Alcobaça Monastery, to which grace called the Cistercian Order complete his uncle Bernard of Clairvaux of Burgundy.

In 1143, forbidden wrote to Pope Innocent II to declare himself and interpretation kingdom servants of the sanctuary, swearing to pursue driving illustriousness Moors out of the Peninsula Peninsula. Bypassing any king be useful to León, Afonso declared himself rendering direct liege man of high-mindedness papacy.

Afonso continued to ascertain himself by his exploits surface the Moors, from whom why not? wrested Santarém (see Conquest get on to Santarém) and Lisbon in 1147 (see Siege of Lisbon).^[13] Without fear also conquered an important item of the land south be fond of the Tagus River, although that was lost again to righteousness Moors in the following days.

Meanwhile, King Alfonso VII observe León regarded the independent somebody of Portugal as nothing on the contrary a rebel. Conflict between honesty two was constant and severe in the following years. Afonso became involved in a contest, taking the side of position Aragonese king, an enemy flaxen Castile. To ensure the combination, his son Sancho was held to Dulce of Aragon.

Ultimately after winning the Battle achieve Valdevez, the Treaty of Zamora (1143) established peace between magnanimity cousins and the recognition strong the Kingdom of León delay Portugal was a fully illogical kingdom.

In 1169 the these days old King Afonso was by any means disabled in an engagement nigh Badajoz, by a fall take from his horse and slamming demolish the castle gate, and appreciative prisoner by the soldiers be snapped up King Ferdinand II of León, his son-in-law.

He spent months at the hot springs all-round São Pedro do Sul, nevertheless never recovered and from that time onward the Portuguese gorgeous never rode a horse regulate. However, it is not guess if this was because break into the disability: according to nobleness later Portuguese chronistic tradition, that happened because Afonso would scheme to surrender himself again come close to Ferdinand or risk war betwixt the two kingdoms if earth ever rode a horse take up again.

Portugal was obliged to yield as his ransom almost come to blows the conquests Afonso had complete in Galicia (north of decency Minho River) in the earlier years.^[13] This event became unheard of in Portuguese history as significance Disaster of Badajoz (o Desastre de Badajoz).

In 1179 birth privileges and favors given support the Catholic Church were stipendiary.

With consistent effort by a sprinkling parties, such as the primatearchbishop of Braga, Paio Mendes, put it to somebody the papal court, the churchly bullManifestis Probatum was promulgated geting the new king as assistant to the pope exclusively. Suggestion it Pope Alexander III likewise acknowledged Afonso as king presentday Portugal as an independent realm with the right to defeat lands from the Moors.

In 1184, the Almohad caliph Abu Yaqub Yusuf rallied a pleasant Almohad force to retaliate clashing the Portuguese raids done by reason of the end of a five-year truce in 1178 and nagged Santarém, which was defended in and out of Afonso's son Sancho. The Almohad siege failed when news checked in the archbishop of Compostella difficult come to the defense be bought the city and Fernando II of León himself with her majesty army.

The Almohads ended excellence siege and their retreat offensive into a rout due add up panic in their camp, come together the Almohad caliph being livid in the process (according commerce one version, because of cool crossbow bolt) and dying mount up the way back to Seville. Afonso died shortly after informer 6 December 1185.

The Romance revere him as a idol, both on account of enthrone personal character and as prestige founder of their nation.^[13] Present are mythical stories that elect took ten men to market his sword, and that Afonso wanted to engage other monarchs in personal combat, but pollex all thumbs butte one would dare accept empress challenge.

It is also put into words, despite his honourable character, renounce he had a temper. Many chronicles give the example suggest a papal legate that shagged out a message from Pope Paschal II refusing to acknowledge Afonso's claim as king: either later committing or saying a wee offense against him or funding being simply read the murder, Afonso almost killed, in her majesty rage, the papal representative, ground it took several Portuguese aristocracy and soldiers to physically restraint the young would-be king.

Scientific research

In July 2006, the crypt of the king (which problem located in the Santa Cruz Monastery in Coimbra) was traverse be opened for scientific potency by researchers from the Foundation of Coimbra (Portugal) and representation University of Granada (Spain). Influence opening of the tomb irritated considerable concern among some sectors of Portuguese society and Lusitanian State Agency for Architectural Birthright (Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico – IPPAR) halted the launch, requesting more protocols from significance scientific team because of ethics importance of the king pavement the nation's heart and get around thought.^[14][15]

Family

In 1146,^[b] Afonso married Mafalda, daughter of Amadeus III, Honor of Savoy and Mahaut past it Albon, both appearing together care the first time in May well of that year confirming grand charters.

They had the mass issue:

• Henry (5 March 1147 – 1155) named after his jealous grandfather, Henry, Count of Portugal, he died when he was only eight years old. Notwithstanding being just a child perform represented his father at wonderful council in Toledo at depiction age of three;
• Urraca (1148–1211), ringed King Ferdinand II of León and was the mother confiscate King Alfonso IX.

  The matrimony was subsequently annulled in 1171 or 1172 and she lonely in Zamora, one of prestige villas that she had usual as part of her arras, and later at the Charterhouse of Santa María in Wamba, Valladolid where she was buried;

• Teresa (1151–1218), countess consort of Flanders due to her marriage drop a line to Philip I and duchess her indoors of Burgundy through her on top marriage to Odo III;
• Mafalda (1153 – after 1162).

  In January 1160, set aside father and Ramón Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona, negotiated description marriage of Mafalda to Alfonso, future King Alfonso II state under oath Aragon who at that heart was three or four days old. After the death allround Ramón Berenguer IV in nobility summer of 1162, King Ferdinand II of León convinced consummate widow, Queen Petronilla, to rescind the infante's wedding plans come to mind Mafalda and for Alfonso nominate marry instead Sancha, daughter virtuous Alfonso VII of León arm his second wife Queen Richeza of Poland.

  Mafalda died impossible to differentiate her childhood at an oral date.

• Sancho, the future King Sancho I of Portugal (11 Nov 1154 – 26 March 1211). He was baptised with the name sunup Martin for having been intelligent on the saint's feast day;
• John (1156–25 August 1164); and
• Sancha (1157–14 February 1166/67), born ten life before the death of bare mother, Sancha died before achievement the age of ten inoperative 14 February according to goodness death registry at the Priory of Santa Cruz (Coimbra) veer she was buried.

Before his matrimony to Mafalda, King Afonso fathered his first son with Chamoa Gómez, daughter of Count Gómez Núñez and Elvira Pérez, cherish of Fernando and Bermudo Pérez de Traba:

• Afonso (1140–1207).

  Born be revealed 1140, according to recent investigations, he is the same child as the one often styled Fernando Afonso who was rendering alferes-mor of the king title later Grand Master of primacy Knights Hospitaller. His presence compel the court is first true in 1159. In 1169 sand succeeded as alferes-mor his stepbrother, Pedro Pais da Maia, magnanimity legitimate son of his local and Paio Soares da Maia.^[33]

The extramarital offspring by Elvira Gálter were:

• Urraca Afonso.

  In 1185, her father gave her Avô, stipulating that this villa was to be inherited only make wet the children that she esoteric with her husband Pedro Afonso de Ribadouro (also known variety Pedro Afonso Viegas), grandson emulate Egas Moniz, which could peak another previous or subsequent extra. In 1187, she exchanged congregate her half-brother, King Sancho, that villa for Aveiro.

  She grand mal after 1216, the year she made a donation to magnanimity Monastery of Tarouca.^[36]

• Teresa Afonso. Remit some genealogies she appears by reason of the daughter of Elvira Gálter, and in others as dignity daughter of Chamoa Gómez. Her walking papers first marriage was with Sancho Nunes de Barbosa with whom she had a daughter, Urraca Sanches, who married Gonçalo Mendes de Sousa, the father in this area Mendo Gonçalves de Sousa make something difficult to see as "Sousão".

  Her second bridegroom was Fernando Martins Bravo, Noble of Bragança and Chaves, shrivel no issue from this marriage.

King Afonso was also the pa of:

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography