Battle of Valdevez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Valdevez
Azulejo panel depicting the Battle of Valdevez at the São Bento railway station, Porto
Date Summer of 1140 or 1141 Location Arcos de Valdevez, Portugal Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Portugal	Kingdom of León
Commanders and leaders
Afonso I of Portugal	Alfonso VII of León

The Battle of Valdevez (Portuguese: Torneio de Arcos de Valdevez) was a clash between the Kingdom of León and the Kingdom of Portugal. It happened in the summer of 1140 or 1141 near Arcos de Valdevez, by the Vez river. This event was important because it helped Portugal become an independent country.

The battle was unusual. Instead of a large fight, it was more like a series of jousting matches between knights. After this "tournament," an agreement was made. This agreement later led to the Treaty of Zamora in 1143, which officially recognized Portugal's independence. The area where it happened became known as the "field of killing."

What Happened at Valdevez?

The Start of the Conflict

At first, Afonso of Portugal was expected to inherit the throne from his cousin, Alfonso VII of León. But then, Alfonso VII had two sons. This meant Afonso of Portugal would no longer be the heir.

Because of this, and wanting Portugal to be its own country, Afonso decided to rebel. He broke an earlier peace treaty from 1137. He led his army into Galicia, which was part of León.

Armies Meet at Valdevez

When Alfonso VII heard about Afonso's invasion, he quickly moved his troops from León into Galicia. His army destroyed any forts that Afonso's forces might use. They set up camp north of the Lima River, near where the Vez river flows.

The main fighters on both sides were knights on horseback. It's not clear exactly how the battle unfolded. However, it's believed that to avoid a huge, messy fight, the leaders agreed to individual jousting matches. This turned the battle into a kind of medieval sports event, called a hastilude.

A Tournament, Not a Battle

One reason Afonso of Portugal might have agreed to a tournament was a threat from the Almoravids. These were Muslim invaders attacking the southern part of his territory. He needed to deal with them quickly.

At Valdevez, many knights were captured, but very few lives were lost. The Portuguese knights gained the upper hand in these jousts. According to the rules of chivalry at the time, this meant they won.

Peace and Independence

After the tournament, a peace agreement was made. Prisoners were exchanged. This agreement was an armistice, which is like a temporary stop to fighting. This armistice eventually became the Treaty of Zamora in 1143. This treaty was very important because it officially recognized Portugal as an independent kingdom.

Historical Accounts of the Battle

Historians learn about the Battle of Valdevez from old writings. Two main sources are the Chronica Adefonsi imperatoris and the Chronicon Lusitanum.

The Chronica Adefonsi imperatoris (Leonese View)

This account describes how Emperor Alfonso VII's army went into Portugal. It mentions that Afonso of Portugal's army fought some of the Emperor's knights who had separated from the main group. One knight, Count Ramiro, was captured.

The Emperor's camp was near a castle, and the Portuguese King's camp was on higher ground. Knights from both sides came down and fought in individual duels. Many fell from their horses and were captured.

The older Portuguese nobles then advised their king to make peace. They worried about the Emperor's stronger army and new attacks from the Almoravids. They suggested returning castles to the Emperor in exchange for peace.

One of the knights in the monument in Arcos de Valdevez

The Chronicon Lusitanum (Portuguese View)

This Portuguese source describes the event as a "game" or "bufurdio," which means a jousting match. It says that knights from the Emperor's side came to play this game. Then, the Portuguese knights came down and fought them.

The Portuguese captured many important people from the Emperor's side. This included several noblemen and relatives of the Emperor. This account confirms that the Portuguese were successful in these individual fights.

Remembering the Battle

The Battle of Valdevez is still remembered today.

• At the São Bento railway station in Porto, there is a beautiful tile mural (called an azulejo) showing the battle.
• In Arcos de Valdevez, there is a monument by sculptor José Rodrigues that shows the battle as a joust.
• The Museum of Arcos de Valdevez has an artifact from this "Tournament of Knights" on display.

See also

In Spanish: Torneo de Arcos de Valdevez para niños

Images for kids

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  Azulejo panel depicting the Battle of Valdevez at the São Bento railway station, Porto

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  One of the knights in the monument in Arcos de Valdevez