Afonso I of Portugal
Afonso I, called the Conqueror, founded the Kingdom of Portugal and reigned for forty-six years, longer than any other Portuguese monarch. Born around 1109, he was the son of Henry of Burgundy, Count of Portucale, and Teresa of León, an illegitimate daughter of Alfonso VI. His father died when he was about three, and his mother governed as regent. She allied closely with Galician nobles, which the Portuguese barons resented, and Afonso took up arms against her. He defeated her forces at São Mamede near Guimarães in June 1128, took control of the county, and had her imprisoned. He then had to establish independence from his cousin Alfonso VII of León and Castile. He won a decisive victory over the Moors at Ourique in July 1139, and afterwards began styling himself king; the conflict with León was settled by the Treaty of Zamora in 1143, in which Alfonso VII recognised him. He also placed the kingdom under the direct protection of the papacy, paying an annual tribute, and Pope Alexander III recognised him as king in the bull Manifestis Probatum in 1179. His reign was one of continuous campaigning southward. He took Santarém by surprise assault in March 1147, and later that year captured Lisbon after a seventeen-week siege, assisted by a fleet of English, Flemish and German crusaders bound for the Holy Land who were persuaded to stop and help. Lisbon became the kingdom's principal city. He was captured at Badajoz in 1169 and injured, which ended his personal campaigning. He died in 1185, and his son Sancho I succeeded him.
- Lived: 1109 CE – 1185 CE
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Roles: king, head_of_state
