It is believed that Afonso I, better known as Afonso Henriques, was born in 1109. The first King of Portugal conquered independence from the Kingdom of León and Castile in 1143, thus being known as “the Founder” and “the Conqueror”.
He was the son of the Counts Henrique of Burgundy and Teresa of León. According to tradition, he was born in Guimarães.
He received the name “Afonso” in honour of his grandfather Afonso VI – Emperor of Spain – and “Henriques” – for it meant “the son of Henrique”.
After the death of his father, Afonso Henriques took a number of political positions that went against his mother Teresa, which culminated in a skirmish on June 24, 1128, in which his army emerged victorious in the Battle of São Mamede. After that point, he ruled the land of Portucale and his authority was rarely challenged.
He furthered the expansion to the south – conquering territories from the Moors – and had some major victories, such as the Battle of Ourique (1139), Leiria (1145) and Santarém and Lisbon (1147). After the victory in Ourique, Afonso Henriques consolidated his position, so much so that he began to call himself “Rex“, King of the Portuguese. At the same time, he developed a network of vassalages that was able to politically strengthen the “kingdom”. The recognition by Alfonso VII (king of León and Castile) was established by the Treaty of Zamora in 1143.
In 1146, he married Mafalda of Savoy. At the time, Savoy was an autonomous County. From the wedlock, seven children were born: Henrique, Urraca, Teresa, Mafalda, Sancho (formerly, Martinho), João and Sancha.
The convergence with the Holy See – of which Afonso Henriques became a vassal in the same year – led to a new phase of foreign policy. On May 28, 1179, Pope Alexander III granted Afonso Henriques – through the Bull “Manifestis Probatum” – the right to conquer lands from the Moors and referred to him as “Rex” for the first time.
“Alexander, Bishop, servant of the servants of God, to his dear son in Christ, Afonso, illustrious king of the Portuguese and his heirs. (…) We, recognizing your person (…) with all the honors and dignity proper to kings, grant you by virtue of the apostolic authority, and confirming you in possession of all the places that, with the help of divine grace, you will be able to wrest from the hands of the Saracens, without your neighbours, the Christian princes, being able to claim any pretensions over them.” (Condensado da História de Portugal by A.H. Oliveira Marques)Afonso Henriques confirmed the Foral granted by his father to Guimarães, where he expanded the guarantees and exemptions conceded to the residents of the city and to those who would settle in it. In this document, Afonso Henriques expresses his gratitude to those who , during the siege of the castle – commanded by Alfonso VII (1127) – risked everything and stood by his side.The first Portuguese King lived a long life. He died in 1185 (over 70 years old) and his remains rest in the Church of Santa Cruz (Coimbra).
