Reconquest from the Muslims of much of present Portugal by Ferdinand the Great of Leon and Castile. Ferdinand organized the territory as a county, with Coimbra as the capital.
Henry of Burgundy, a descendant of King Robert of France, came to Spain with other knight-adventurers to fight against the Moors. In return, the king of Castile granted him the county of Portugal and gave him the hand of his (illegitimate) daughter, Teresa. Henry himself was a typical crusader, restless and enterprising, whose main hope appears to have been to establish a dynasty in Castile.
AFONSO HENRIQUES, the founder of the Portuguese monarchy and of the Burgundian dynasty. Afonso was only three years old at the death of his father. His mother, Teresa, ruled as regent, but soon became involved in a struggle with Galicia and Castile. Being defeated, she agreed to accept Castilian domination.
Afonso was proclaimed king by the cortes. The pope arranged the Treaty of Zamora between Portugal and Castile, the latter recognizing Portuguese independence, while Portugal accepted the suzerainty of the pope.
SANCHO I, the son of Afonso Henriques. His reign was noteworthy for the development of towns and for the establishment of military orders of knighthood. Sancho did much to settle colonists on the lands that were won back in the prolonged wars against the Moors.
