Portugal

Alfonso I (Alfonso Henriques) (1112?-1185) was the first king of Portugal, reigning from 1139 to 1185. Alfonso became count of Portugal while still a child. He succeeded his father, Henry of Burgundy, who had been given the county by Alfonso VI of León and Castile. Portugal at that time extended from the Minho River to Coimbra, covering the northern third of what is now Portugal.

Alfonso's mother, Teresa of Castile, ruled as regent until he sent her into exile in 1128. The young count began to fight both the Moors and his cousin, Alfonso VII of León and Castile, for Portuguese independence. Following victory over the Moors in the battle of Ourique in 1139, Alfonso declared himself king of Portugal. The Treaty of Zamora (1143) between Portugal and Castile established Portugal's independence.

Alfonso extended Portugal's southern boundary by defeating the Moors at Santarém and Lisbon in 1147 and at Beja and Evora in the 1160's. These conquests expanded the kingdom to cover about half of what is now Portugal.