Reconquista
The founder of the state is Afonso I. On July 25, 1139, he won a tremendous victory at Ourique, after which his soldiers proclaimed him king (literally “King of the Portuguese”. Then Afonso assembles the royal assembly in Lamego, where he receives the crown from the hands of the Archbishop of Braga. From this point on, Portugal actually ceases to be the feudal domain of Castile and becomes an independent state.
Further, Afonso fights for the recognition of himself as king by the Church and neighboring states. He founded several monasteries and conventions, and bestowed privileges on religious orders. In 1143, he declares himself and his kingdom as servants of the Church and promises to complete the expulsion of the Moors. Afonso wins over the Moors of Santarem in 1146 and Lisbon in 1147. He also conquers a part of the territory south of the Tagus River, which, however, he could not hold.
King Alfonso VII of Castile, a cousin of Afonso, was displeased with the independence of Portugal. A war began with Castile, Afonso entered into an alliance with the king of Aragon. In 1167, Afonso was wounded near Badajoz and taken prisoner by soldiers of the King of Leon. Portugal was forced to capitulate, surrendering almost all that Afonso won in Galicia as a ransom.
In 1179, Pope Alexander III recognized Afonso as king of Portugal, as an independent state, with the right to conquer the lands of the Moors. Portugal finally established itself as a state and secured itself against attempts of annexation by Castile.
The son of Afonso, King Sancho I in 1189 occupied Alentejo and the Algarve, but Sancho I could not hold on to conquest, losing the battle to caliph Yacoub al-Mansur a year later.
King Afonso II tried to strengthen the country from within, feeling strong, he began to weaken the privileges of the clergy, which was why the Pope excommunicated the Church.
His son Sancho II began to actively continue Reconquista and settle conflicts with the church, took part of the Algarve, but did not cope with political intrigues, was declared heretic by the Pope and expelled, passing the throne to his brother Afonso III.
Afonso III strengthened the rule of law in the country, in 1254 in the city of Leiria, he gathered the first Cortes, where the nobility came in, middle merchants and representatives of all municipalities. He also publishes a set of laws that limit the possibility of oppression of the highest nobility of the population. Afonso III continued the war with the Muslims in the south. In his reign the Algarve became part of the kingdom, following the capture of Faro. Portugal thus became the first Iberian kingdom to complete the Reconquista. In 1267, an agreement was reached in Badajoz on the southern borders between Castile and Portugal, defined by the Guadiana River.
The rise and fortification of Portugal
The reign of King Denis is considered the heyday. The king made Portuguese the official language and became famous as a poet and troubadour. After a short conflict with Castile, no wars were fought. In 1297, Denis signed the Borders Pact with Ferdinand IV of Castile, valid to this day.
Denis continued his father’s policy of forming legislation and centralizing power. He promulgated the core of the Portuguese civil and criminal codes protecting the lower classes from harassment and extortion. A lot of fortresses were built, new cities were created and cities were privileged to several existing settlements. Deposits of coal, silver, tin, and iron were explored, and the surplus development was exported to other European countries. The first Portuguese trade agreement was signed with England in 1308. Denis founded the Portuguese fleet. He also redistributed land, encouraged agriculture, organized farming communities and established exports. He established regular fairs in many cities and monitored their operation.
He saved the Order of the Templars from persecution and confiscation of property, transforming it into the Order of Christ with the center in the city of Tomar.
Culture developed in the country. Lisbon has become one of the main scientific and cultural capitals of Europe. The University of Coimbra was established.
The situation in the country worsened during the rule of the son of Denis, Afonso IV – a civil war broke out in the country, in 1344 there was a terrible earthquake, then in 1348/1349 the plague claimed the lives of a third of the population, and then the war of the king against the rebellious son Pedro I, who less after the death of Afonso was able to take the throne.
Pedro I reigned for 10 years and died early, leaving the country in a flourishing state.
In 1367 Ferdinand I became king, and he became involved in several conflicts. He declared his claims to the throne of Castile, entered into an alliance with Aragon and Muslim Granada, but suffered several defeats. In 1373 and 1381 he again entered into unsuccessful wars with Castile. Portugal was devastated and ravaged.
In 1383, Fernando made peace with John I of Castile in Salvaterra, departing from his English allies, who responded by devastating part of his territory. By agreement, Salvaterra Beatrice married Juan I of Castile.
Fernando died in 1383, leaving no heirs.
Portuguese interregnum
In accordance with the terms of the marriage contract, the Queen Leonora became the regent on behalf of her daughter Beatriz and son-in-law Juan I of Castile. For a long time Leonora had an intrigue with Count Ouren, whose influence caused resentment of the aristocracy, besides her tyranny raised rebellious opposition sentiments. The dissatisfied chose Don Juan, grand master of the Aviz knightly order, a side son of Pedro Sura, as their leader, and organized an uprising in Lisbon, after killing Count Ouren in the royal palace on December 6, 1383.
Leonora fled to Santarem and asked for help from Castile , while Don Juan was proclaimed “protector of Portugal. ” Shortly thereafter, the Castilians invaded Portugal in order to capture Lisbon and overthrow Juan of Aviz from the throne. Juan of Castile was supported by the French allied cavalry, and on the side of Juan of Avis were English troops. The first invasion in April 1384 was repelled after the Battle of Atoleiros. In May of the same year, Juan Castile invaded with a large army and besieged Lisbon , but as a result of famine and plague after four months he was forced to lift the siege.
On April 16, 1385, the Cortes meeting in Coimbra proclaims the election of the king of Portugal and elects, according to the petition of the adviser João das Regras, Don Juan of Aviz to be king. The choice of the grand master of the Order of Avis re-ratified the ancient union of the crown and communities, including the nobility and the clergy. The nation was united.
In 1385, a new Castilian invasion occurred, but in the decisive battle of Aljubarrota on August 14, 1385, the Castilian army was almost destroyed. Juan of Castile retreated, and the throne remained with John I, who also concluded an alliance with England, which then fought with France.
John I of Castile, learning about the plans of Leonora to poison him (or under the pretext of an open conspiracy), concluded her in the Tordesillas monastery, where she died in 1386.