Battle of São Mamede facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of São Mamede
Part of the County of Portugal leadership
Celebrations of the Battle of São Mamede in the Castle of Guimarães
Date 24 June 1128 Location Guimarães Result Afonso Henriques victory. Afonso takes the leadership of the County of Portugal and paves the way for an independent Kingdom of Portugal
Belligerents
Afonso Henriques	Theresa, Countess of Portugal
Commanders and leaders
Afonso Henriques	Theresa, Countess of Portugal Fernando Pérez de Traba

The Battle of São Mamede happened on June 24, 1128, near Guimarães, Portugal. This battle was a super important event that led to the creation of the Kingdom of Portugal. It helped Portugal become an independent country.

In this battle, Portuguese forces were led by Afonso Henriques. They fought against forces led by his own mother, Teresa of Portugal, and her ally, Fernão Peres de Trava. After winning at São Mamede, Afonso Henriques started calling himself "Prince of Portugal." Later, in 1139, he became "King of Portugal." Other kingdoms recognized him as king in 1143.

How Portugal Started: The Background

In the late 1000s, a knight named Henry of Portugal came to help the Christians in Hispania (what is now Spain and Portugal). He fought against the Moors alongside King Alfonso VI of León. To thank him, King Alfonso gave Henry the County of Portugal. This was a special area that had tried to be independent before. Henry became the count, and he married Theresa, one of King Alfonso's daughters.

In 1095, the County of Portugal was part of the Kingdom of Galicia. Galicia itself was part of the bigger Kingdom of León. By 1097, Portugal became directly dependent on León. But from the start, Henry wanted Portugal to be independent, just like many local leaders.

Henry died in 1112. His wife, Queen Theresa, then became the countess of Portugal. Her sister, Queen Urraca, became Queen of León after their father, Alfonso VI, died. Like her husband, Theresa also wanted Portugal to be independent from León, especially from her sister. To keep her county free, she would sometimes team up with her sister's enemies or even with her sister, depending on what helped her most.

In 1116, the Portuguese took two cities from Galicia: Tui and Ourense. Queen Urraca attacked Theresa's lands in response. But a bishop named Diego Gelmírez caused trouble in Urraca's army. This made Urraca agree to make peace with Theresa.

Queen Urraca died in 1126. Her son, Alfonso VII, became the new king of León and Castile. He demanded that Theresa become his loyal subject, but she refused. So, in the spring of 1127, Alfonso attacked Portugal. This made Theresa's son, Afonso Henriques, more powerful. Theresa had lost the trust of the Leonese king, and Afonso became the count of Portugal. After this, Theresa became influenced by a Galician noble named Ferdinand Perez de Trava. Theresa and Prince Afonso became rivals because both wanted to control the county. However, only Afonso's supporters truly wanted Portugal to be fully independent.

The Battle of São Mamede

Afonso Henriques was not alone in this fight. The leaders of the main Portuguese cities, the local church, and the people all wanted Portugal to be independent. They put pressure on Afonso to achieve this.

Many important nobles fought with Afonso Henriques in the battle. Some of them were:

• Afonso Nunes de Barbosa
• D. Paio Mendes da Maia (who was the Archbishop of Braga)
• Egas Moniz de Cresconhe
• Egas Moniz de Ribadouro
• Ermígio Moniz de Ribadouro
• Fernão Captivo
• Garcia Soares
• Godinho Fafes de Lanhoso
• Gonçalo Mendes da Maia (also known as O Lidador)
• Gonçalo Mendes de Sousa
• Nuno Soares Velho
• Paio Ramires Ramirão
• Sancho Nunes de Barbosa
• Soeiro Mendes de Sousa

The counts who ruled the counties of Portugal and Coimbra always dreamed of independence. When these areas joined together, their power grew stronger. King Alfonso VI of León knew the Portuguese wanted to be free. So, he put all of Galicia under one ruler, choosing a close relative. Theresa, Afonso Henriques' mother, came to Guimarães to govern the Portuguese county. But the Portuguese people did not accept this. That's when the battle began. Afonso won the battle, and Portugal started its journey to becoming an independent nation.

After the Battle

In 1129, Afonso Henriques declared himself the Prince of Portugal. Then, in 1139, he became the King of Portugal. The Kingdom of León finally recognized Portugal's independence in 1143 with the Treaty of Zamora. In 1179, the Holy See (the Pope) officially declared him King.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de San Mamede para niños