Sancho II of Portugal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sancho II |
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King Sancho in the Castilian manuscript Compendium of Chronicles of Kings, c. 1312-1325
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| King of Portugal | |
| Reign | 25 March 1223 – 4 December 1247 |
| Predecessor | Afonso II |
| Successor | Afonso III |
| Born | 8 September 1209 Coimbra, Kingdom of Portugal |
| Died | 4 January 1248 (aged 38) Toledo, Kingdom of Castile |
| Burial | Cathedral of Toledo, Toledo, Province of Toledo, Castile–La Mancha, Spain |
| Spouse | Mécia Lopes de Haro (m. c. 1243-45) |
| House | Burgundy |
| Father | Afonso II of Portugal |
| Mother | Urraca of Castile |
Sancho II (born September 8, 1209 – died January 4, 1248) was a King of Portugal. He ruled from 1223 to 1248. People sometimes called him the Cowled or the Pious. He was also known as the Capuched (o Capelo in Portuguese).
Sancho II was born in Coimbra, a city in Portugal. He was the oldest son of Afonso II of Portugal and his wife, Urraca of Castile. After his rule, his brother, Afonso III, became the next king in 1248.
Contents
Sancho II's Reign and Military Actions
When Sancho II became king in 1223, Portugal was having problems with the Catholic Church. His father, King Afonso II, had tried to reduce the Church's power. Because of this, the Pope had excommunicated him. This meant he was kicked out of the Church.
Sancho II signed a treaty with the Pope to fix things. However, he didn't pay much attention to it. His main goal was the Reconquista. This was a long effort to take back land in the southern Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. The Moors were Muslim people who had lived there for a long time.
From 1236 onwards, King Sancho II was very successful in his military campaigns. He conquered many cities in the Algarve and Alentejo regions. These victories helped Portugal secure its control over these areas.
Why Sancho II Lost His Throne
Sancho II was a good military leader. But he was not as good at managing the country's daily problems. He focused all his attention on fighting wars. This left the country open to arguments and disagreements among different groups.
The powerful nobles were unhappy with how the king was ruling. They started to plan against him. Also, merchants and the clergy (Church leaders) often argued. The king did not step in to solve these problems.
Because of this, the bishop of Porto complained to the Pope. In the 13th century, the Church was very powerful. So, Pope Innocent IV decided to act. He issued a special order called a bull (a formal letter from the Pope). This bull told the Portuguese people to choose a new king. The Pope called Sancho II a "heretic," meaning someone who goes against Church teachings.
In 1246, some nobles who were against Sancho invited his brother, Afonso, to become king. Afonso was the Count of Boulogne in France. He quickly gave up his French lands and came to Portugal.
Exile and Death of King Sancho II
A civil war started in Portugal in late 1245. It lasted until mid-1247. Prince Alfonso, who would later become King Alfonso X of Castile, also got involved. He sent his forces to help.
Eventually, Prince Alfonso pulled his troops out to help his father in a battle called the siege of Seville. After this, King Sancho II had to flee Portugal. He went into exile in Toledo, Spain. He died there on January 4, 1248, at the age of 38. He was buried in the Toledo Cathedral.
Sancho II's Marriage
Around 1240, Sancho II married Mécia Lopes de Haro. She was a lady from Castile. Mécia was the daughter of Lope Díaz II de Haro and Urraca Alfonso de León. Urraca was the daughter of Alfonso IX of León. Sancho and Mécia did not have any children who could legally inherit the throne.
See also
In Spanish: Sancho II de Portugal para niños
- Timeline of Portuguese history (First Dynasty)
- Portugal in the Middle Ages
