County of Portugal
Encyclopedia
The County of Portugal was the region around Braga
and Porto
, today corresponding to littoral northern Portugal, from the late ninth to the early twelfth century, during which it was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León
.
of Porto by count Vímara Peres
occurred in 868, which is the traditional beginning of the county of Portugal, said to have been established by Alfonso III of León
. The county continued with varying degrees of autonomy within the León and, during brief periods of division, the Kingdom of Galicia
until 1071, when Count Nuno Mendes
was defeated and killed by King García II of Galicia. An independent county was abolished with the territories remaining within the crown of Galicia, and following reunification the next year, that of León under Sancho II and Alfonso VI.
A County of Galicia, including Portugal, had been given by Alfonso VI to his son-in-law Raymond of Burgundy
, but in 1096 Alfonso separated the County of Portugal from these lands and granted them, along with the County of Coimbra
, to another son-in-law, Henry of Burgundy
, wed to Alfonso VI's illegitimate daughter Theresa
. Henry based his newly formed county in Braga.
It was Henry's son and successor, Afonso Henriques, who expanded the territory and assumed the royal title. He took the reins of the government in 1128, after routing forces of his mother in the Battle of São Mamede, near Guimarães
. After this battle, he began to exhibit a seal with a cross and the word "Portugal". He continued to win battles, supported by the nobles of Entre-Douro-e-Minho, eventually triumphing in the Battle of Ourique
in 1139, which led to his proclamation as King of Portugal. It was finally in 1143 when Alfonso VII recognized the de facto independence of Portugal in the Treaty of Zamora
.
Second county
Braga
Braga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...
and Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, today corresponding to littoral northern Portugal, from the late ninth to the early twelfth century, during which it was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
.
History
The ReconquistaReconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
of Porto by count Vímara Peres
Vímara Peres
Vímara Peres, Count of Portugal was a Galician Christian duke of the 9th century in west Iberia. He was a vassal of the King of Asturias, Léon and Galicia, Alfonso III, and was sent to reconquer and secure from the Moors , in the west coastal fringe of Gallaecia, the area from the Minho River to...
occurred in 868, which is the traditional beginning of the county of Portugal, said to have been established by Alfonso III of León
Alfonso III of León
Alfonso III , called the Great, was the king of León, Galicia and Asturias from 866 until his death. He was the son and successor of Ordoño I. In later sources he is the earliest to be called "Emperor of Spain"...
. The county continued with varying degrees of autonomy within the León and, during brief periods of division, the Kingdom of Galicia
Kingdom of Galicia
The Kingdom of Galicia was a political entity located in southwestern Europe, which at its territorial zenith occupied the entire northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Founded by Suebic king Hermeric in the year 409, the Galician capital was established in Braga, being the first kingdom which...
until 1071, when Count Nuno Mendes
Nuno Mendes (count)
Nuno Mendes or Nuno II was the last Count of Portugal from the family of Vímara Peres. The son of Count Mendo Nunes, his desires for greater autonomy for Portugal led him to face King Garcia II of Galicia and claim the title of King of Portugal in 1070...
was defeated and killed by King García II of Galicia. An independent county was abolished with the territories remaining within the crown of Galicia, and following reunification the next year, that of León under Sancho II and Alfonso VI.
A County of Galicia, including Portugal, had been given by Alfonso VI to his son-in-law Raymond of Burgundy
Raymond of Burgundy
Raymond of Burgundy was the fourth son of William I, Count of Burgundy, and was Count of Amous. He came to the Iberian Peninsula for the first time during the period 1086–1087 with Odo I, Duke of Burgundy...
, but in 1096 Alfonso separated the County of Portugal from these lands and granted them, along with the County of Coimbra
County of Coimbra
The County of Coimbra was a political entity instituted as a subsidiary county for the prince Ardavast or Sisebuto son of King Wittiza until the fall of Visigothic Hispania by Abderraman III ruler of Al-Andalus. The first counts established a long and great dynasty which were several families and...
, to another son-in-law, Henry of Burgundy
Henry, Count of Portugal
Henry of Burgundy, Count of Portugal was Count of Portugal from 1093 to his death. He was brother of Hugh I, Duke of Burgundy, and Odo I, Duke of Burgundy, all sons of Henry, the heir of Robert I, Duke of Burgundy. His name is Henri in modern French, Henricus in Latin, Enrique in modern Spanish...
, wed to Alfonso VI's illegitimate daughter Theresa
Theresa, Countess of Portugal
Theresa of Portugal was the first ruler of independent Portugal...
. Henry based his newly formed county in Braga.
It was Henry's son and successor, Afonso Henriques, who expanded the territory and assumed the royal title. He took the reins of the government in 1128, after routing forces of his mother in the Battle of São Mamede, near Guimarães
Guimarães
Guimarães Municipality is located in northwestern Portugal in the province of Minho and in the Braga District. It contains the city of Guimarães.The present Mayor is António Magalhães Silva, elected by the Socialist Party.-Parishes:-Economy:...
. After this battle, he began to exhibit a seal with a cross and the word "Portugal". He continued to win battles, supported by the nobles of Entre-Douro-e-Minho, eventually triumphing in the Battle of Ourique
Battle of Ourique
The Battle of Ourique saw the forces of Portuguese Prince Afonso Henriques defeat the Almoravid Moors led by Ali ibn Yusuf.-Background:...
in 1139, which led to his proclamation as King of Portugal. It was finally in 1143 when Alfonso VII recognized the de facto independence of Portugal in the Treaty of Zamora
Treaty of Zamora
The Treaty of Zamora recognized Portuguese independence from the Kingdom of León. Based on the terms of the accord, King Alfonso VII of León and Castille recognized the Kingdom of Portugal in the presence of King Afonso I of Portugal, witnessed by the papal representative, Cardinal Guido de Vico,...
.
Counts
First county- Vímara PeresVímara PeresVímara Peres, Count of Portugal was a Galician Christian duke of the 9th century in west Iberia. He was a vassal of the King of Asturias, Léon and Galicia, Alfonso III, and was sent to reconquer and secure from the Moors , in the west coastal fringe of Gallaecia, the area from the Minho River to...
(868–73) - Lucídio VimaranesLucídio VimaranesLucídio Vimaranes was the second Count of Portugal. He was the son of Vímara Peres. Following his death, the county passed out of the family, but he is thought to have been ancestor of Count Alvito Nunes, who in the 11th century initiated a second period in which the family controlled the County of...
(873–???) - Hermengildo GonçalvesHermenegildo GonzálezHermenegildo González or Mendo I Gonçalves was a count in the 10th century Kingdom of León, and husband of Mumadona Dias, Countess of Portugal. He was son of count Gonzalo Betótez and Teresa Eriz, and maternal grandson of count Ero Fernández. His sister Aragonta González had been wife of Ordoño II...
(c.924–c.950) - Mumadona DiasMumadona DiasMumadona Dias, or Muniadomna Díaz, Countess of Portugal in the 10th century, ruling between c. 924 - c. 950. She was daughter of Count Diogo Fernandes and of countess Onega....
(c.924–c.950) - Gonçalo MendesGonzalo MenéndezGonzalo Menéndez was a Count of Portugal in the Kingdom of León. He regularly carries the title count , the highest in the kingdom, in surviving documents. He may have used the title magnus dux portucalensium...
(c.950–997), self-styled "Grand Duke of Portugal" - Mendo GonçalvesMenendo GonzálezMenendo González was a semi-autonomous Duke of Galicia and Count of Portugal and a dominant figure in the Kingdom of León around the turn of the second millennium. He was the tutor and father-in-law of King Alfonso V from at least 1003...
(997–1008) - Alvito NunesAlvito NunesAlvito Nunes was an 11th century Count of Portugal. Following the death of Menendo González, he was appointed to the county. He is believed to be a descendant of the first family to hold the title, that of Vímara Peres...
(1008–1015) - Nuno AlvitesNuno AlvitesNuno Alvites, sometimes Nuno I was a Count of Portugal, apparently a descendant of the first count, Vímara Peres. He succeeded his father Alvito Nunes in the county, and ruled with his spouse Ilduara Mendes, daughter of earlier count Menendo González. Following his death, she continued to rule as...
(1017–1028) - Ilduara MendesIlduara MendesIlduara Mendes was a Countess of Portugal, the daughter of Menendo González. She ruled with her husband Nuno Alvites, and following his death, on behalf of their son and heir Mendo Nunes....
(1017–1028, as regent for son) - Mendo NunesMendo NunesMendo Nunes, sometimes Mendo III was a Count of Portugal from the family of Vímara Peres. He was the son of Nuno I Alvites and Ilduara Mendes. He died in combat in 1050 and was succeeded by his son Nuno Mendes....
(1028–1050) - Nuno MendesNuno Mendes (count)Nuno Mendes or Nuno II was the last Count of Portugal from the family of Vímara Peres. The son of Count Mendo Nunes, his desires for greater autonomy for Portugal led him to face King Garcia II of Galicia and claim the title of King of Portugal in 1070...
(1050–1071)
Second county
- HenryHenry, Count of PortugalHenry of Burgundy, Count of Portugal was Count of Portugal from 1093 to his death. He was brother of Hugh I, Duke of Burgundy, and Odo I, Duke of Burgundy, all sons of Henry, the heir of Robert I, Duke of Burgundy. His name is Henri in modern French, Henricus in Latin, Enrique in modern Spanish...
(1096–1112) - TheresaTheresa, Countess of PortugalTheresa of Portugal was the first ruler of independent Portugal...
(1112–1128, ruling as regent for son), self-styled Queen of Portugal - AfonsoAfonso I of PortugalAfonso I or Dom Afonso Henriques , more commonly known as Afonso Henriques , nicknamed "the Conqueror" , "the Founder" or "the Great" by the Portuguese, and El-Bortukali and Ibn-Arrik by the Moors whom he fought, was the first King of Portugal...
(1112–1139), self-styled Duke of Portugal
See also
- History of Portugal (711–1112)
- List of Portuguese monarchs
- Kings of Portugal family treeKings of Portugal family treeThis is a collection of the family trees of the kingdom of Portugal.See also: Portugal - History of Portugal - List of Portuguese monarchs...