Rulers
Rulers
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Rulers of Portugal (1112 .. 1598)
High Middle Ages
| From Date |
Ruler | Relationship to Predecessor | To Date |
Comments |
| 1112 | Alfonso I | Son | 1185 | Alfonso Henriques was the first king of Portugal. His father, Count Henry of Burgundy had married the illegitimate daughter of Alfonso of Leon. With the marriage Count Henry became governor of Portugal. Alfonso Henriques was nominated king of Portugal in 1139 after defeating the Moors. |
| 1185 | Sancho I | Son | 1211 | Known as the 'Populator', Sancho was the second son of Alfonso. Known for his organistion of the new realm and creation of new towns. |
| 1211 | Alfonso II | Son | 1223 | Known as Alfonso the Fat. Alfonso tried to divert the wealth of teh Church to the state which led to his excommunication by Pope Honorius III. |
| 1223 | Sancho II | Son | 1248 | The reign of Sancho was marked by civil war and he was finaly deposed with the consent of the Pope. |
| 1248 | Alfonso III | Brother | 1279 | After overthrowing his brother Sancho, Alfonso continued the war against the Moors. He captured the province of Algarve and added it to domains of Portugal. |
| 1279 | Denis | Son | 1325 | Denis brought much needed stability to the country. Rebuilt many castles and created the Order of Christ transferring assets formally belonging to the Knights Templar to the new order. |
Kings 936 - 1319
Name:
Alfonso I
Reign:
1112 to
1185
Alfonso Henriques was the
first king of Portugal. His father, Count Henry of Burgundy had
married the illegitimate daughter of Alfonso of Leon. With the
marriage Count Henry became governor of Portugal. Alfonso Henriques
was nominated king of Portugal in 1139 after defeating the
Moors.
Name:
Sancho I
Reign:
1185 to
1211
Known as the 'Populator',
Sancho was the second son of Alfonso. Known for his organistion of
the new realm and creation of new towns.
Name:
Alfonso II
Reign:
1211 to
1223
Known as Alfonso the Fat.
Alfonso tried to divert the wealth of teh Church to the state which
led to his excommunication by Pope Honorius III.
Name:
Sancho II
Reign:
1223 to
1248
The reign of Sancho was
marked by civil war and he was finaly deposed with the consent of
the Pope.
Name:
Alfonso III
Reign:
1248 to
1279
After overthrowing his
brother Sancho, Alfonso continued the war against the Moors. He
captured the province of Algarve and added it to domains of
Portugal.
Name:
Denis
Reign:
1279 to
1325
Denis brought much needed
stability to the country. Rebuilt many castles and created the Order
of Christ transferring assets formally belonging to the Knights
Templar to the new order.
Late Middle Ages
| From Date |
Ruler | Relationship to Predecessor | To Date |
Comments |
| 1325 | Alfonso IV | Son | 1357 | Alfonso rebelled against his father and when he became King of Portugal his reign was marked by political disagreements with his brother and son. He had is daughter-in-law murdered. |
| 1357 | Peter I | Son | 1367 | Peter sought revenge for the murder of his wife Inez in 1355 and started a civil was against his father Alfonso. When Alfonso died in 1357, Peter became King of Portugal. |
| 1367 | Ferdinand I | Son | 1383 | Ferdinand was the second son of Peter I. He attempted to claim the throne of Castile through the female line. The conflict was ended with the agreement that Ferdinand's daughter Beatrice should marry John of Castile. |
| 1383 | Beatrice | Daughter | 1385 | Although Beatrice was the daughter of Ferdinand I and was heiress of the throne of Portugal it is most likely that she was never crowned Queen. Beatrice and her husband John of castile attempted to take the throne but after two years of conflict it was an illegitimate son of Peter I who became the next king. |
| 1385 | John of Avis | n/a | 1433 | John was the illegitimate son of Peter I and was choosen as the new King of Portugal in an attempt to put an end to the disputed succession. In order to hold on to power, John formed an alliance with the English John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III. With the help of the English John cleared Portugal of its enemies. |
| 1433 | Edward | Son | 1438 | |
| 1438 | Alfonso V | Son | 1481 | Known as the 'African' due to his military enterprises in Africa against the Moors. Abdicated the throne and retired to a monastery as Sintra. |
| 1481 | John II | Son | 1495 | Known as the 'Perfect'. Became king after his father abdicated the throne. Renewed exploration of Africa and beyond. |
| 1495 | Manuel I | Cousin | 1521 | Boosted the Portuguese economy through rich trade and financed several explorers and claimed Brazil for Portugal. |
| 1521 | John III | Son | 1557 | Chaotic policies reduced Portugal's commercial power. |
| 1557 | Sebastian | Grandson | 1578 | Was killed in 1578 during a crusade. Sebastian was so popular that the Portuguese didn't believe he was dead and would return. Pretenders claiming to be King turned up in Portugal for several years. |
| 1578 | Henry | Great-uncle | 1580 | Was the younger son of Manuel I. Was made a cardinal and was the last of the House of Aviz. |
| 1580 | Philip I | n/a | 1598 | Also Philip II of Spain. Philip became King of Portugal through his first marriage to Maria, the daughter of John III. Married Mary, the Queen of England. |
Kings 1320 - 1513
Name:
Alfonso IV
Reign:
1325 to
1357
Alfonso rebelled against
his father and when he became King of Portugal his reign was marked
by political disagreements with his brother and son. He had is
daughter-in-law murdered.
Name:
Peter I
Reign:
1357 to
1367
Peter sought revenge for
the murder of his wife Inez in 1355 and started a civil was against
his father Alfonso. When Alfonso died in 1357, Peter became King of
Portugal.
Name:
Ferdinand I
Reign:
1367 to
1383
Ferdinand was the second
son of Peter I. He attempted to claim the throne of Castile through
the female line. The conflict was ended with the agreement that
Ferdinand's daughter Beatrice should marry John of Castile.
Name:
Beatrice
Reign:
1383 to
1385
Although Beatrice was the
daughter of Ferdinand I and was heiress of the throne of Portugal it
is most likly that she was never Queen. Beatrice and her husband
John of castile attempted to take the throne but after two years of
conflict it was as an illegitimate son of Peter I who became the
next king.
Name:
John
Reign:
1385 to
1433
John was the illegitimate
son of Peter I and was choosen as the new King of Portugal in an
attempt to put an end to the disputed succession. In order to hold
on to power, John formed an alliance with the English John of Gaunt,
the Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III. With the help of
the English John cleared Portugal of its enemies.
Name:
Edward
Reign:
1433 to
1438
Name:
Alfonso V
Reign:
1438 to
1481
Known as the 'African' due
to his military enterprises in Africa against the Moors. Abdicated
the throne and retired to a monastery as Sintra.
Name:
John II
Reign:
1481 to
1495
Known as the 'Perfect'.
Became king after his father abdicated the throne. Renewed
exploration of Africa and beyond.
Name:
Manuel I
Reign:
1495 to
1521
Boosted the Portuguese
economy through rich trade and financed several explorers and
claimed Brazil for Portugal.
Name:
John III
Reign:
1521 to
1557
Chaotic policies reduced
Portugal's commercial power.
Name:
Sebastian
Reign:
1557 to
1578
Was killed in 1578 during a
crusade. Sebastian was so popular that the Portuguese didn't believe
he was dead and would return. Pretenders claiming to be King turned
up in Portugal for several years.
Name:
Henry
Reign:
1578 to
1580
Was the younger son of
Manuel I. Was made a cardinal and was the last of the House of
Aviz.
Name:
< a href="./philip_ii_king_of_spain_1556_1598.htm">Philip I
Reign:
1580 to
1598
Also Philip II of Spain.
Philip became King of Portugal through his first marriage to Maria,
the daughter of John III. Married Mary, the Queen of England.