Portugal
FAMOUS FIGURES OF OUR HISTORY
D. AFONSO HENRIQUES
D. Afonso Henriques was the first king of Portugal. The date and place of
his birth is uncertain. For some historians, D. Afonso Henriques was born
in Guimarães, for others, in Coimbra. Regarding the date, the most
consensual is the year 1109.
He was the son of Count Henry of Burgundy and Dona Teresa, illegitimate daughter of King
Afonso VI of Leon. His father, Count Henry, died early and his education was in charge of Egas
Moniz, who greatly aided him When he took over the destinies of Condado Portucalense.
In 1120, it took a political position opposite to the one of its mother, that allied to the party of
the Locks and that it did not please the barons Portucalenses. Thus, reproving the mother's
political strategies, D. Afonso Henriques fought against her and against her allies.
In 1128, the two armies fought in Campo de S.
Mamede, next to Guimarães Castle, where the troops
of D. Teresa were defeated.
From this victory, D. Afonso Henriques assumed the
government of the Portucalense County.
Its main objective was the extension of the territory and the consolidation of independence.
For this, he had to face many adversities, fighting against his cousin, king of Leon and Castile,
and against the Moors.
In 1139, he won a huge battle against the Moors, the famous battle of Ourique.
From then on, he began to use the title of king.
For several years, the struggles with Leon and Castile also continued. However, in 1143, the
Treaty of Zamora was signed, in which Afonso VII recognized the title of King D. Afonso
Henriques.