Portuguese Monarch. Born in Coimbra, the second son of Afonso II and his wife, Urraca of Castile. Afonso was raised largely in France, and there married Matilda, Countess of Boulogne in 1238. Within ten years, Pope Innocent IV came into conflict with Sancho II, Afonso's brother and Portugal's king. The pope ordered Sancho removed from the throne and replaced by the count of Bolougne. The unpopular Sancho was summarily exiled to Castile and Afonso ascended to the throne after divesting himself of his wife and the title she brought to their marriage. In 1253, Afonso married Beatriz of Castile, daughter of Alfonso X the Wise of Castile. In 1254, Afonso held the first session of the Cortes, the kingdom's general assembly. Credited as a notable administrator, he founded several towns; instituted administrative and financial reforms, encouraged commerce, reorganized public administration, and made laws restraining the upper classes from abusing the lower. He initiated a Reconquest of Portugal against Moorish settlers in the south, capturing Faro and adding Algarve as part of the kingdom. Afonso was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Dinis.
Portuguese Monarch. Born in Coimbra, the second son of Afonso II and his wife, Urraca of Castile. Afonso was raised largely in France, and there married Matilda, Countess of Boulogne in 1238. Within ten years, Pope Innocent IV came into conflict with Sancho II, Afonso's brother and Portugal's king. The pope ordered Sancho removed from the throne and replaced by the count of Bolougne. The unpopular Sancho was summarily exiled to Castile and Afonso ascended to the throne after divesting himself of his wife and the title she brought to their marriage. In 1253, Afonso married Beatriz of Castile, daughter of Alfonso X the Wise of Castile. In 1254, Afonso held the first session of the Cortes, the kingdom's general assembly. Credited as a notable administrator, he founded several towns; instituted administrative and financial reforms, encouraged commerce, reorganized public administration, and made laws restraining the upper classes from abusing the lower. He initiated a Reconquest of Portugal against Moorish settlers in the south, capturing Faro and adding Algarve as part of the kingdom. Afonso was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Dinis.
Bio by: Iola
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