Afonso I of Portugal

Reign: 1139 – 1185
Life: 1109–1185

Henry died in 1112, leaving Theresa to rule alone. Unhappy with Theresa's romantic relationship with Galician Fernando Pérez de Traba and his political influence, the Portuguese nobility rallied around Afonso, who revolted and defeated his mother at the Battle of São Mamede in 1128 and became sole Count of Portugal soon afterwards. In 1139, Afonso renounced the suzerainty of the Kingdom of León and established the independent Kingdom of Portugal. Afonso actively campaigned against the Moors in the south. In 1139 he won a decisive victory at the Battle of Ourique, and in 1147 he seized Santarém and Lisbon from the Moors, with help from men on their way to the Holy Land for the Second Crusade. He secured the independence of Portugal following a victory over León at Valdevez and received papal approval through Manifestis Probatum.

During Afonso I of Portugal's reign, Henry II of England ruled England, Alfonso VIII of Castile ruled Spain, and Louis VII of France ruled France.

Want to learn more? Further reading

A History of Portugal and the Portuguese Empire by A. R. Disney

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