Treaty of Zamora facts for kids

This artwork shows the Treaty of Zamora.

Iberia in 1144, showing the new Kingdom of Portugal in red.

An old drawing of the treaty signing (Alfredo Roque Gameiro, 1899).

The Treaty of Zamora was a very important agreement signed on October 5, 1143. It officially recognized Portugal as an independent kingdom with its own king. This recognition came from the Kingdom of León, a powerful neighbor.

The treaty was signed in the city of Zamora at its Cathedral. King Alfonso VII of León agreed to Portugal's independence. He was there with his cousin, King Afonso I of Portugal. A special helper from the Pope, Cardinal Guido de Vico, also witnessed the event. Both kings promised to keep peace between their new kingdoms. Through this treaty, Afonso I of Portugal also agreed to be under the Pope's special protection.

This important treaty happened after a fight called the Battle of Valdevez.

What Was the Treaty of Zamora?

The Treaty of Zamora was a peace agreement. It officially made Portugal a separate kingdom. Before this, Portugal was a county, part of the Kingdom of León. This treaty changed everything for Portugal's future.

Why Was This Treaty Needed?

After winning the Battle of Ourique in 1139, Afonso Henriques wanted Portugal to be a true kingdom. He got a lot of help from the archbishop of Braga, D. João Peculiar. The archbishop worked hard to make Portugal an independent nation. He helped arrange a meeting between Afonso Henriques and his cousin, Alfonso VII of León. This meeting happened in Zamora on October 4 and 5, 1143. Cardinal Guido de Vico, the Pope's representative, was also there.

What Did the Treaty Change?

With the treaty, King Alfonso VII agreed that the County of Portugal would become a kingdom. He also agreed that D. Afonso Henriques would be its first king. This meant Portugal was now independent from León.

Afonso Henriques had been using the title of "rex" (king) since 1140. The Treaty of Zamora officially confirmed this title. At the meeting, Afonso Henriques promised the cardinal that he would be like a special helper, or "vassal," to the Holy See (the Pope). He also agreed that he and future Portuguese kings would pay a small amount of money to the Pope each year.

From 1143, D. Afonso Henriques sent letters to the Pope. He declared himself the Pope's loyal supporter. He also promised to send a certain amount of gold every year. These talks with the Pope lasted many years, from 1143 to 1179.

In 1179, Pope Alexander III sent D. Afonso Henriques a special letter. It was called "Manifestis probatum". In this letter, the Pope agreed that D. Afonso Henriques would only be loyal to him. This made Portugal truly independent from Alfonso VII. A king could not serve two masters! The Pope also officially recognized D. Afonso Henriques as the first king of Portugal.

See also

In Spanish: Tratado de Zamora para niños

• History of Portugal
• List of treaties
• Timeline of Portuguese history