Battle of São Mamede

{{Unreferenced|date=June 2007}} The '''Battle of São Mamede''' ({{lang-pt|Batalha de São Mamede}}, {{IPA-pt|ˈsɐ̃w̃ mɐˈmɛð(ɨ)|pron}}) took place on June 24, 1128 near [[Guimarães]] and is considered the seminal event for the foundation of the [[Kingdom of Portugal]]. Portuguese forces led by [[Afonso I of Portugal|Afonso Henriques]] defeated forces led by his mother [[Theresa, Countess of Portugal|Teresa of León]] and her lover [[Fernão Peres de Trava]]. Following São Mamede, the future king styled himself "Prince of Portugal". He would be called "King of Portugal" in 1139 and was recognised as such by neighbouring kingdoms in 1143. ==Background== In late 11th century, [[Henry, Count of Portugal|Henry of Portugal]], a [[knight]] from [[Burgundy (region)|Burgundy]] and descendant of [[monarch|king]] [[Robert II of France|Robert II]], was in search of adventure in [[Hispania]]. He fought the [[Moors]] along with [[Alfonso VI of León]]. In honour of his fights in [[Hispania]], the King gave him the [[County of Portugal]]. This gift came with a reinstated title; because of attempts by the previous holder some years earlier to assert independence, it had been suppressed. Henry became count of Portugal and Theresa, one of Alfonso's daughters, his wife. In 1095, the county was a dependency of the [[Kingdom of Galicia]], itself a dependency of the [[Kingdom of León]]. In 1097 Portugal became a direct dependency of León. However, from the early years of his rule, as he became influenced by the desire of the lords of the county for independence, Henry desired the independence of the county. Henry died in 1112, and his wife ''Regina Tarasia'' (Queen Theresa, as she addressed herself) became the countess of Portugal. She also wished for independence from her sister, Urraca, who became Queen of León after Alfonso's death. Like her husband, Theresa was also ambitious. In an attempt to maintain the autonomy of her county, she allied herself to her sister's enemies or with her sister, whichever was most propitious at the time. In 1116, the Portuguese took two Galician cities, [[Tui, Galicia|Tui]] and [[Ourense]]. In reply, the sister of Countess Theresa, [[Urraca of León and Castile|Queen Urraca]], attacked Theresa's dominions. Bishop Gelmeres, a friend of a Galician noble that was in the service of Theresa, led a revolt in the camp of Queen Urraca, and she was obliged to make peace with her sister Theresa. Urraca died in 1126. [[Alfonso VII of León and Castile|Alfonso VII]] became king of León and Castile and demanded that Theresa become his vassal, which she refused to do. In response, Alfonso attacked Portugal in the spring of 1127. This increased the power of her son, because she had lost the trust of the Leonese king, and her son became the count of Portugal. Theresa became a puppet of the Galician Ferdinand Perez de Trava. Theresa and Prince Afonso became enemies, as both wanted to take control of the county, but only the supporters of Prince Afonso were really interested in full independence. ==Nobles of the foundation of Portugal== Afonso Henriques was not alone in the battle. In fact, he was pressured by the lords of the main Portuguese cities and by the local church and its people to achieve the independence of the county. Nobles participating on the battle with Afonso Henriques: * Afonso Nunes de Barbosa (1131) * D. Paio Mendes da Maia (Braga archbishop) * Egas Moniz de Cresconhe * Egas Moniz de Ribadouro (1108–1146) * Ermígio Moniz de Ribadouro (1128–1135) * Fernão Captivo (Alferes-Mor) * Garcia Soares * Godinho Fafes de Lanhoso * [[Gonçalo Mendes da Maia]] (''O Lidador'') * Gonçalo Mendes de Sousa (1154–1167) * Nuno Soares Velho (1117–1162) * Paio Mendes * Paio Ramires Ramirão * Sancho Nunes de Barbosa (1114–1169) * Soeiro Mendes de Sousa (1121–1137) ==The battle== The counts that dominated the [[County of Portugal|counties of Portugal]] and [[county of Coimbra|Coimbra]] kept the idea of independence, and their merger strengthened their positions. [[Alfonso VI of León]], knowing the wishes of the Portuguese, united all [[Kingdom of Galicia|Galicia]] under a single rule of one lord, which he choose from one of his close relatives. Teresa, mother of Afonso Henriques, came to Guimarães to govern the [[Second County of Portugal|Portuguese county]]. The Portuguese did not accept this, and the battle started. Afonso won the battle and Portugal started its journey towards independence. In 1129, he declared himself ''Prince of Portugal'' and in 1139 as ''King of Portugal''. León finally recognized Portugal's independence in 1143 in the [[Treaty of Zamora]]. In 1179, the [[Holy See]] declared him King, [[de jure]]. {{coord missing|Portugal}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sao Mamede}}