Afonso I
At a glance:
- Series: Dictionary of World Biography: Middle Ages
- Categories: Royalty, Rulers, Nobility, Military History
- Subcategories: Christianity, Christians, Churches, Kings, Queens, Kingdoms, Monarchy, Wars, Battles, Crusades, Invasions, Raids, Conquests, Sieges
- Curriculum: Medieval History/Middle Ages, Spanish/Portuguese History
Article abstract: Through astute leadership in military victories over Muslims and Christian Iberian neighbors, Afonso created the independent monarchy of Portugal and became its first king.
Early Life
In 1087, many French knights were invited by Christians of the Iberian Peninsula to help in the fight against the Muslim Almoravids. These Moroccan warriors had invaded the divided Islamic areas of Spain, and through military victories were uniting the Muslims and threatening the Christian kingdoms. One of the French nobles was Henry of Burgundy, who...
[The entire page is 2139 words long]