Vímara Peres and the Foundations of Portugal (868 CE)

Vímara Peres, a vassal of King Alfonso III of Asturias, León, and Galicia, is sent to reconquer and secure the western coastal fringe of Gallaecia from the Moors—the Arabs and Berbers who had invaded Visigothic Hispania. His mission covers the territory between the Minho and Douro Rivers, including the strategically important city of Portus Cale (later Porto and Gaia), from which the name Portugal will eventually emerge.

The Birth of the County of Portugal (868 CE)

After successfully expelling the Moors, Vímara Peres is named Count of Portugal in 868 CE, marking the first formal establishment of the county north of the Douro River.

While Portugal will not achieve full independence until the 12th century, later Portuguese historians recognize Vímara Peres' reconquest as the earliest milestone in the formation of the Portuguese state.

The Founding of Guimarães and Vímara’s Legacy

To solidify control over the newly reconquered lands, Vímara Peres establishes a fortified settlement under his own name, Vimaranis, which later evolves into Guimaranis and, ultimately, Guimarães. This city will come to be known as "The Cradle City" (A Cidade Berço) of Portugal.

Vímara Peres dies in 873 CE in Guimarães, leaving the governance of the County of Portugal to his son, Lucídio Vimaranes (Lucídio, son of Vímara), who succeeds him as count.

The Reign of Alfonso III of Asturias: Expansion and Consolidation

Little is known about Alfonso III of Asturias beyond the basic facts of his reign and his relative success in consolidating the kingdom during the weakened rule of the Umayyad princes of Córdoba.

Though he achieves several victories over the Muslims of Al-Andalus, his kingdom remains inferior in power to Córdoba, forcing him to pay tribute to the Umayyad emirate.

Military Campaigns and Expansion

Alfonso III spends much of his reign securing Asturian borders and expanding his territory southward:

• 867 – He suppresses a Basque rebellion.
• 868 – He conquers Oporto.
• 878 – He captures Coimbra.
• Later in his reign, he also puts down a Galician rebellion.

Dynastic Alliances with Navarre

To strengthen his position, Alfonso III forms an alliance with the Kingdom of Navarre around 869 CE, solidifying the relationship through marriage alliances:

• He marries Jimena, who is believed to be the daughter of King García Íñiguez of Pamplona, or possibly a member of the Jiménez dynasty.
• He marries his sister, Leodegundia, to a prince of Pamplona, further reinforcing ties between Asturias and Navarre.

These strategic military and dynastic moves help Alfonso III expand and secure his kingdom, laying the groundwork for future Christian expansion in Iberia.

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.

The Struggle for Portugal’s Independence (1112–1128 CE)

The death of Alfonso VI of León plunges his kingdom into civil war, with Aragonese, Galician, and Castilian barons vying for control. During this period of instability, Count Henry of Portugal wisely remains neutral and gradually withdraws from his feudal obligations to León.

Teresa’s Rule and Conflict with Alfonso VII (1112–1127)

Upon Henry’s death in 1112, his widow, Teresa, inherits the County of Portugal. Initially, she follows her late husband's policy of nonalignment.

However, once Alfonso VII emerges victorious in the struggle for the Leonese crown, he seeks to assert his suzerainty over Teresa, his aunt, and her Galician consort, Fernando Pérez de Traba.

Teresa refuses to do homage to Alfonso VII, leading to a six-week war in 1127, after which she is forced into submission.

Afonso Henriques Rebels Against Teresa (1128)

As Teresa’s fortunes decline, many of her Portuguese barons, who fear the loss of their power and independence, turn against her. They align themselves with her son, Afonso Henriques, who has recently armed himself as a knight.

On July 24, 1128, at the Battle of São Mamede near Guimarães, Afonso Henriques defeats his mother’s forces and expels her to Galicia, where she later dies in exile.

This victory grants Afonso Henriques full control over Portucalense, known in the vernacular as Portugal, paving the way for his later declaration of independence from León and the establishment of Portugal as a sovereign kingdom.

Alfonso VII and the Portuguese Struggle for Independence (1126–1128)

Upon ascending the throne of León and Castile in 1126, Alfonso VII demanded that his aunt, Theresa, Countess of Portugal—the illegitimate daughter of Alfonso VI—swear fealty to him as his vassal. Theresa, however, refused, asserting her authority over Portugal and seeking greater autonomy.

Alfonso VII's Invasion of Portugal (1127)

In retaliation for Theresa’s defiance, Alfonso VII launched a military campaign against Portugal in the spring of 1127. The invasion weakened Theresa’s position, shifting power toward her son, Afonso Henriques, the rightful heir of Henry of Burgundy, Count of Portugal. With Alfonso VII’s trust in Theresa eroded, Afonso Henriques emerged as the true power in Portugal, while his mother fell under the influence of her Galician lover, Ferdinand Pérez de Trava.

Afonso Henriques and the Portuguese Secession (1128)

A bitter conflict erupted between mother and son, as both sought to control the county. However, only Afonso Henriques’ supporters—comprising the nobility of the main Portuguese cities, the local clergy, and much of the population—were committed to achieving full independence from León.

In 1128, in response to mounting pressure, Afonso Henriques led a decisive campaign against his mother and her lover, defeating their forces and seizing control of Portugal. With his victory, Portugal became de facto independent, marking a crucial turning point in the county’s history.

The Rise of Prince Afonso (1129)

The following year, Afonso Henriques formally proclaimed himself Prince of Portugal, setting the stage for the kingdom’s eventual sovereignty.

…

• • Guimarães (one of Portugal’s oldest and most symbolic cities).
• His forces also secured other strongholds throughout northern Portugal, ensuring that Castilian loyalists lost territorial control.

• Castile’s Response: A Renewed Invasion

• John I of Castile refused to accept the loss of Portuguese territory and saw John of Aviz’s actions as a direct challenge to his claim.
• He launched a new invasion of Portugal, his army reinforced by French soldiers, likely members of the free companies that had fought in the Hundred Years’ War.
• This invasion set the stage for the decisive confrontation that would determine the fate of Portugal’s independence—the Battle of Aljubarrota (August 14, 1385).

The Road to Aljubarrota

• John I of Portugal and his commander, Nuno Álvares Pereira, mobilized their forces, preparing for a final battleagainst Castile.
• The English alliance, already in negotiation, began to provide military assistance in the form of troops and tactical support.
• The Castilian army, significantly larger and supported by French heavy cavalry, entered Portugal in the summer of 1385, leading to the climactic Battle of Aljubarrota, which would ultimately secure Portugal’s sovereignty.

John I’s swift military actions in annexing key cities forced Castile’s hand, leading to the final struggle that would determine whether Portugal remained an independent kingdom or was absorbed into Castile.