I know there´s been a thread similar to this one in the past. But I didn´t had the time to answer it well and since then I wanted to give a better answer to it.
For those who like history and want to know a bit more of european history, stay with me!
The character is D.Afonso Henriques, 1109-1185, 1st king of Portugal also known as "the conqueror".
Background: Islam´s golden age is ending but they still have a strong hold on the Iberian peninsula (current Portugal and Spain). Christian knights have been able to reconquer almost half of the peninsula up north but the muslims are still very strong on the southern half. The christians are divided in some 4 or 5 kingdoms being the westernmost the strongest and larger, the kingdom of Lyon and Casteel. It´s from this larger kingdom that a new smaller nation is to be born by the hand of a very strong and charismatic leader.
In the year of 1092, Afonso VI of Lyon and Casteel decides to unite two small counties around river Douro. He unites them and gives them to one of his "out of marriage" daugthers (Teresa) as he manages to marry her with a noble named Henry (Henrique in portuguese) from the burgundian house (today´s eastern france). The new formed county is more or less 300km by 100km. It´s main cities are Braga, Porto, Coimbra and the capital Guimarães.
In 1108 the still young counts have their first and only child which they name after their king of Lyon and Casteel keeping also the father´s name. So we have Afonso Henriques....and here begins our history!!!!!
At the age of 13, the young child starts to show what he´s made about! During the cerimony where he is made knight, at the large cathedral in Zamora, standing before his grandfather the king and the bishop of Zamora, the young Afonso gets cocky, simply ignores the bishop and anoints himself a knight and protector of all christians. Rumours say that his grandfather the king was really amused and felt sory that this boy was not in the first line to the crown of Lyon and Casteel.
The young Afonso Henriques is only 20 years old when his grandfather dyes. By that time a great turmoil arises. Teresa, his mother, who is by now very independent from her husband, wants to get some new allies and start contending for the crown of the larger kingdom of Lyon and Casteell. She starts allying with a neighbour count and tries to give him the portuguese county (her husband was more concerned in getting our of the hell and getting back to france!). Too bad the young Afonso Henriques had different views! He siezes the moment and with only 20 years old he is able to take his father place as the leader of the portuguese cities. With a small army he goes to the capital of Guimarães where his mother is and takes it by siege. The city greats the army as liberators and quickly pledges it´s loyalty to the young leader. Teresa escapes and gets back with an army only to be beaten by his son near Guimaraes in the year of 1128 (battle of S.Mamede).
After this victory over his mother, the young leader has his first declaration of independence written:
I, prince Afonso, son of count Henrique, free of all opression, in the peacefull possession of Coimbra, Guimaraes and all the portuguese cities.
He also starts imediate talks with the church to get recognition of his powers. First he helps the portuguese archbishop of Braga to get rich and powerful and after he starts bribing the Vatican itself! For more than 60 years, the church of Braga will allways be loyal to him and pled for him to the pope whenever necessary.
The new found Portugal enjoys a period of sucess during it´s first years. The struggle is still on to see who is going to win the crown of Lyon and Casteel and as long as that strong continues, no one will mess with Afonso Henriques in his corner. He takes the time to strenghten the portuguese cities south against the muslims and further uniting them for the next moves.
By 1135 the struggle in Lyon and Casteel finaly ends. Afonso VII, cousin of Afonso Henriques, takes the crown in a great ceremony where all his counts must pay tribut to him. Guess who´s the only count not attending!!!! Afonso Henriques who by not attending makes a stand that he´s no longer a count and Portugal is now an independent kingdom.
The war erupts bettween the two cousins and Afonso Henriques is able to stand with is smaller county. In 1137 after 2 years of war both achieve an understanding. Afonso VII recognizes his cousin authority over Portugal and in trade Afonso Henriques promisses to allways aid him with his men against the muslims, a promisse he will never fulfill!!!
Afonso Henriques wants to concentrate on expanding Portugal further south gaining land to the muslims and doing it he fails to help his cousin in his own troubles. A state of war is almost allways standing bettween the two cousins but Portugal, leaded by Afonso Henriques, is able to win battles to superior foes both against the muslims and against the neighbour kingdom of Lyon and Casteel.
In 1139 Afonso Henriques achieves his greatest military victory on the battle of Ourique. He takes a small portuguese army some 100 to 150km deep inside muslim territory to the south. He then faces a supperior muslim army and proudly camps facing it and offering battle. To bolst the portuguese moral, Afonso Henriques tells his soldiers that he saw Christ in a dream that night and that God wants the portuguese to drive the muslims south into the sea. Adding to this declaration, He asks a new banner to be made, and for the first time, the shield of Portugal will be carried into battle, the same shield you can still see in our flag today! With a new flag and the promise of God´s help, the portuguese inflict a devastating blow on the muslims.
The result of this battle was so devastating that both the vatican and the kingdom of Lyon and Casteel started seing Afonso Henriques as a king on his own right.
In 1143, the Vatican sends an emissary to try and establish a long standing peace bettween the christian rullers. Afonso Henriques plays his cards again and speaking of the battle of Ourique he asks to be made a servent of the Pope himself, a status that will make him an independent king having full authority over his territories and owing allegiance to no one! The Vatican will take it´s time to answer
1147 - After many more battles against the muslims and his cousin from Lyon and Casteel, Afonso Henriques coordinates a massive allied army of crusades in the siege of Lisbon. It is said it was an army of hundreds of thousands with a navy of 150 ships from different nations. The city falls into christian hands and after a bloodbath, Afonso Henriques changes is capital to Lisbon with the clear view of expanding Portugal further south. By now he already has more or less twice as land as he had in the beggining. Portugal extends now more 200km south to the Tagus river and in many places we already have strong cities even south of the river.
War keeps erupting with muslims and with Lyon and Afonso Henriques spends his time allways fighting or trying to achieve goals through diplomacy.
By 1179, the Vatican finally recognizes the new fully independent kingdom of Portugal! In truth, this was no longer necessary as by then Portugal has been able to stand by himself against it´s neighbours.
Throgout years of fighting Afonso Henriques is even taken hostage in treachery by the new ruller of Lyon and Casteel, king Fernando II. However, due to carefull negotiations with church and noble representatives, the portuguese nobles finally buy his freedom with a ransom of 2,5 tons of gold!!!!
At his death, he leaves his children with a kingdom which is now almost 3 times bigger and with a big big treasure looted from the muslims.
In his finall will, he states that his treasure is the treasure of Portugal and should be used to the benefict of the kingdom! Therefore he comands that it should be used to build castles, improve defenses, but also to build hospitals and several churches. He is worried with a muslim counter-atack and urges several military european orders to establish in Portugal giving them territories to manage. Orders like the templars for example who are given lands on the tagus river north of Lisbon.
His descendants will rulle Portugal for several generations and his grandson will eventually finish the work of driving the muslims into the sea of the coast of Algarve, thus establishing the final borders of Portugal, the oldest in all Europe!!!!!!
He dies at the age of 76, a remarkable old age for the 12th century! he is said to have led his personal cavalry in battle at the age of 60 as a relief army that broke a muslim siege on his older son. Both father and son made a dramatic fight at the head of their armies totally routing the muslims.
From his several children, the most notorious where:
Sancho: 2nd king of Portugal, didn´t had his father strenght or charisma, lost several cities back to the muslims only to be retaken by his son.
Urraca: married with the king of Lyon, was expelled from that kingdom due to the wars bettween them and Portugal.
Mafalda: married to the count of Barcelona
Teresa: married to the count of Flandres (belgium)
Afonso: Lead the crusade order of Rhodes from 1203 to 1206 dying the next year
The greatest achievement of Afonso Henriques:
The 1st European leader to build a strong, united and independent kingdom that still lasts today as the oldest european country.
For those who like history and want to know a bit more of european history, stay with me!
The character is D.Afonso Henriques, 1109-1185, 1st king of Portugal also known as "the conqueror".
Background: Islam´s golden age is ending but they still have a strong hold on the Iberian peninsula (current Portugal and Spain). Christian knights have been able to reconquer almost half of the peninsula up north but the muslims are still very strong on the southern half. The christians are divided in some 4 or 5 kingdoms being the westernmost the strongest and larger, the kingdom of Lyon and Casteel. It´s from this larger kingdom that a new smaller nation is to be born by the hand of a very strong and charismatic leader.
In the year of 1092, Afonso VI of Lyon and Casteel decides to unite two small counties around river Douro. He unites them and gives them to one of his "out of marriage" daugthers (Teresa) as he manages to marry her with a noble named Henry (Henrique in portuguese) from the burgundian house (today´s eastern france). The new formed county is more or less 300km by 100km. It´s main cities are Braga, Porto, Coimbra and the capital Guimarães.
In 1108 the still young counts have their first and only child which they name after their king of Lyon and Casteel keeping also the father´s name. So we have Afonso Henriques....and here begins our history!!!!!
At the age of 13, the young child starts to show what he´s made about! During the cerimony where he is made knight, at the large cathedral in Zamora, standing before his grandfather the king and the bishop of Zamora, the young Afonso gets cocky, simply ignores the bishop and anoints himself a knight and protector of all christians. Rumours say that his grandfather the king was really amused and felt sory that this boy was not in the first line to the crown of Lyon and Casteel.
The young Afonso Henriques is only 20 years old when his grandfather dyes. By that time a great turmoil arises. Teresa, his mother, who is by now very independent from her husband, wants to get some new allies and start contending for the crown of the larger kingdom of Lyon and Casteell. She starts allying with a neighbour count and tries to give him the portuguese county (her husband was more concerned in getting our of the hell and getting back to france!). Too bad the young Afonso Henriques had different views! He siezes the moment and with only 20 years old he is able to take his father place as the leader of the portuguese cities. With a small army he goes to the capital of Guimarães where his mother is and takes it by siege. The city greats the army as liberators and quickly pledges it´s loyalty to the young leader. Teresa escapes and gets back with an army only to be beaten by his son near Guimaraes in the year of 1128 (battle of S.Mamede).
After this victory over his mother, the young leader has his first declaration of independence written:
I, prince Afonso, son of count Henrique, free of all opression, in the peacefull possession of Coimbra, Guimaraes and all the portuguese cities.
He also starts imediate talks with the church to get recognition of his powers. First he helps the portuguese archbishop of Braga to get rich and powerful and after he starts bribing the Vatican itself! For more than 60 years, the church of Braga will allways be loyal to him and pled for him to the pope whenever necessary.
The new found Portugal enjoys a period of sucess during it´s first years. The struggle is still on to see who is going to win the crown of Lyon and Casteel and as long as that strong continues, no one will mess with Afonso Henriques in his corner. He takes the time to strenghten the portuguese cities south against the muslims and further uniting them for the next moves.
By 1135 the struggle in Lyon and Casteel finaly ends. Afonso VII, cousin of Afonso Henriques, takes the crown in a great ceremony where all his counts must pay tribut to him. Guess who´s the only count not attending!!!! Afonso Henriques who by not attending makes a stand that he´s no longer a count and Portugal is now an independent kingdom.
The war erupts bettween the two cousins and Afonso Henriques is able to stand with is smaller county. In 1137 after 2 years of war both achieve an understanding. Afonso VII recognizes his cousin authority over Portugal and in trade Afonso Henriques promisses to allways aid him with his men against the muslims, a promisse he will never fulfill!!!
Afonso Henriques wants to concentrate on expanding Portugal further south gaining land to the muslims and doing it he fails to help his cousin in his own troubles. A state of war is almost allways standing bettween the two cousins but Portugal, leaded by Afonso Henriques, is able to win battles to superior foes both against the muslims and against the neighbour kingdom of Lyon and Casteel.
In 1139 Afonso Henriques achieves his greatest military victory on the battle of Ourique. He takes a small portuguese army some 100 to 150km deep inside muslim territory to the south. He then faces a supperior muslim army and proudly camps facing it and offering battle. To bolst the portuguese moral, Afonso Henriques tells his soldiers that he saw Christ in a dream that night and that God wants the portuguese to drive the muslims south into the sea. Adding to this declaration, He asks a new banner to be made, and for the first time, the shield of Portugal will be carried into battle, the same shield you can still see in our flag today! With a new flag and the promise of God´s help, the portuguese inflict a devastating blow on the muslims.
The result of this battle was so devastating that both the vatican and the kingdom of Lyon and Casteel started seing Afonso Henriques as a king on his own right.
In 1143, the Vatican sends an emissary to try and establish a long standing peace bettween the christian rullers. Afonso Henriques plays his cards again and speaking of the battle of Ourique he asks to be made a servent of the Pope himself, a status that will make him an independent king having full authority over his territories and owing allegiance to no one! The Vatican will take it´s time to answer
1147 - After many more battles against the muslims and his cousin from Lyon and Casteel, Afonso Henriques coordinates a massive allied army of crusades in the siege of Lisbon. It is said it was an army of hundreds of thousands with a navy of 150 ships from different nations. The city falls into christian hands and after a bloodbath, Afonso Henriques changes is capital to Lisbon with the clear view of expanding Portugal further south. By now he already has more or less twice as land as he had in the beggining. Portugal extends now more 200km south to the Tagus river and in many places we already have strong cities even south of the river.
War keeps erupting with muslims and with Lyon and Afonso Henriques spends his time allways fighting or trying to achieve goals through diplomacy.
By 1179, the Vatican finally recognizes the new fully independent kingdom of Portugal! In truth, this was no longer necessary as by then Portugal has been able to stand by himself against it´s neighbours.
Throgout years of fighting Afonso Henriques is even taken hostage in treachery by the new ruller of Lyon and Casteel, king Fernando II. However, due to carefull negotiations with church and noble representatives, the portuguese nobles finally buy his freedom with a ransom of 2,5 tons of gold!!!!
At his death, he leaves his children with a kingdom which is now almost 3 times bigger and with a big big treasure looted from the muslims.
In his finall will, he states that his treasure is the treasure of Portugal and should be used to the benefict of the kingdom! Therefore he comands that it should be used to build castles, improve defenses, but also to build hospitals and several churches. He is worried with a muslim counter-atack and urges several military european orders to establish in Portugal giving them territories to manage. Orders like the templars for example who are given lands on the tagus river north of Lisbon.
His descendants will rulle Portugal for several generations and his grandson will eventually finish the work of driving the muslims into the sea of the coast of Algarve, thus establishing the final borders of Portugal, the oldest in all Europe!!!!!!
He dies at the age of 76, a remarkable old age for the 12th century! he is said to have led his personal cavalry in battle at the age of 60 as a relief army that broke a muslim siege on his older son. Both father and son made a dramatic fight at the head of their armies totally routing the muslims.
From his several children, the most notorious where:
Sancho: 2nd king of Portugal, didn´t had his father strenght or charisma, lost several cities back to the muslims only to be retaken by his son.
Urraca: married with the king of Lyon, was expelled from that kingdom due to the wars bettween them and Portugal.
Mafalda: married to the count of Barcelona
Teresa: married to the count of Flandres (belgium)
Afonso: Lead the crusade order of Rhodes from 1203 to 1206 dying the next year
The greatest achievement of Afonso Henriques:
The 1st European leader to build a strong, united and independent kingdom that still lasts today as the oldest european country.
...
