Treaty of Tuy facts for kids

The Treaty of Tuy was an important agreement signed in 1137. It happened in a place called Tuy, which was part of the Kingdom of León. This treaty was made between two powerful leaders: Afonso Henriques, who was the Count of Portugal, and Alfonso VII, the King of León.

This treaty helped to end a war that had been going on between Portugal and León from 1130 to 1137. It was a big step towards Portugal becoming an independent country.

Why Was the Treaty Needed?

Afonso Henriques knew that King Alfonso VII was busy fighting another king, the King of Navarre. Afonso Henriques saw this as a chance to expand his lands. He led his army into Galicia, a region that belonged to León.

During this invasion, Afonso Henriques captured Tuy. He also took over some castles and caused damage in the area. However, King Alfonso VII soon managed to get Tuy back. After these events, both sides decided it was time to make peace.

Who Signed the Treaty?

The peace treaty was signed by important people from both sides. For Portugal, Paio Mendes, who was the Archbishop of Braga, signed the agreement. For León, bishops from Segovia, Tuy, and Ourense were present.

Many people witnessed the signing of the treaty. This showed how important the agreement was to both the Portuguese and Leonese leaders.

What Were the Main Rules of the Treaty?

The Treaty of Tuy had several key rules that both leaders agreed to follow:

• Afonso Henriques promised to be a loyal friend to King Alfonso VII.
• King Alfonso VII was to be safe. No one was allowed to harm him or his belongings.
• His vassals (people who owed him loyalty) and their lands were also protected.
• Portugal agreed to help King Alfonso VII in wars. This included fights against both Muslim and Christian rulers.
• If Portuguese nobles broke the treaty, Afonso Henriques had to pay King Alfonso VII back.
• Any lands or gifts Afonso Henriques had received from King Alfonso VII had to be returned if the King or his heir asked for them.

Both leaders officially approved the treaty. About 150 witnesses were there to see it happen.

Was the Treaty Real?

The original text of the Treaty of Tuy has not survived over time. We only know about it from a summary in a book called the Historia Compostelana. This summary was written in Latin, but it was not very well written.

A Portuguese historian named Gonzaga de Azevedo thought the treaty might have been fake. He believed Afonso Henriques never actually signed it. It is said that when Archbishop Paio Mendes told Afonso Henriques about the treaty's rules, Afonso refused to follow them.

However, King Alfonso VII believed the war was over. Even if Afonso Henriques did not fully agree, the King of León considered the conflict finished.

What Happened After the Treaty?

The treaty did not make Afonso Henriques officially a vassal of King Alfonso VII. A vassal is someone who owes loyalty and service to a higher lord. However, it did mean that Portugal was still somewhat under the control of León when it came to land ownership.

Some historians believe Afonso Henriques tried to avoid showing he was under Alfonso VII's rule. For example, he never called Alfonso VII "Emperor." Also, Alfonso VII never used his "Emperor" title when dealing with Portugal.

Still, King Alfonso VII always believed he was the overlord of all Hispanic lands. He even complained to Pope Eugene III about Portugal at a big meeting in 1148. He also fought hard for the church in Toledo to be the most important church in all Spanish lands.

Afonso Henriques broke the Treaty of Tuy in 1139. He invaded Galicia again, showing that the peace did not last forever.

See also

In Spanish: Tratado de Tuy para niños