The Establishment of the County of Portugal under Henry of Burgundy (1096 CE)

In 1096 CE, King Alfonso VI of León grants the hereditary title to the County of Portucalense and Coimbra as a dowry for his illegitimate but favored daughter, Theresa, upon her marriage to the Burgundian crusader-knight, Henry, brother of the Duke of Burgundy.

Henry’s Rule in Portucalense

Although Henry is recognized as the sovereign ruler of Portucalense, he holds the province as a vassal of Alfonso VI, remaining bound by feudal obligations to the Leonese crown.

• Henry establishes his court at Guimarães, near Braga, which becomes the political center of his rule.
• He surrounds himself with local barons, appointing them to provincial offices and rewarding them with lands, strengthening his control over the region.
• As a vassal to Alfonso VI, Henry is required to remain loyal and provide military support when needed.

Henry’s Loyalty to León and Military Service

Until Alfonso VI’s death in 1109, Henry of Portugal dutifully fulfills his feudal duties, regularly attending royal councils and providing military assistance in Alfonso’s campaigns against the Moors.

His tenure as Count of Portucalense lays the groundwork for the eventual independence of Portugal, as future rulers will begin to challenge Leonese authority over the region.