Neo Medieval Music w/ History Texts: D. Afonso Henriques, first king and founder of Portugal.

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• published: 05 Mar 2015
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Afonso Henriques, the Conqueror, known by the Moors as "Ibn-Arrik", - son of Henry - , was the first King of Portugal. He was the man who decided to make the Portuguese County an independent kingdom, and he created the Portuguese nation. After his father, Henrique, Count of Portucale, died, his mother, Theresa, began a relationship with Fernão Peres de Trava, who was a Galician Count. They wanted to unite both political realities. That would destroy the dream of an independent Portugal. So, Afonso Henriques, at a very young age, supported by the Portuguese noblemen, armed himself a knight, organized an army, and fought his mother's forces. Which were led by Fernão Peres de Trava. Both Theresa and Fernão Peres de Trava wanted to include Portugal in Galicia. Afonso Henriques and his troops won the Battle of São Mamede. He exiled his mother in Galicia. After that, Afonso Henriques engaged in much more activities, both military and political. He fought both the Moors, and his cousin, Afonso VII, who was king of Leão, the strongest Hispanic Kingdom, and wanted to be Emperor of the entire Iberian Peninsula. Afonso Henriques, a skilled politician, besides being a great military leader, engaged in a serious of negotiations with the Vatican, so Rome would recognize Portugal as an independent Kingdom. Which happened. At the same time, - which also favoured the support of the Pope - Afonso Henriques fought the Moors, and expanded Portugal, and hence, Christianity, to the South. But, in the meantime, Afonso Henriques had a lot to do, inside his own new country. He left the North of Portugal, leaving it to the Noblemen to administrate, and moved to the recently conquered, Coimbra. Afonso Henriques, by doing that, turned himself to the common people, - many of them were also trained to fight - producing an alliance who would also protect him against possible problems with his own noblemen. This was one of the first and earlier steps of an European Kingdom, to built a national army, instead of being dependent on the feudal warlords, and their mutable interests. Eventually, Afonso Henriques conquered Lisboa to the Moors, his most notable conquest. It was not an easy conquest. Lisboa was sieged, and eventually, surrendered. We must remind ourselves that under Muslim rule, both Christians and Muslims lived in peace within themselves. Also Jews. Portuguese territory was very cosmopolitan for its time, so to speak. When Lisboa was finally invaded, not only Portuguese, but also Crusaders, who were hired by Afonso Henriques, engaged in a terrible pillage, and massacres. Afonso Henriques didn't like what he saw, and after Lisboa was taken, he forbidden everyone to pursuit the Muslims who weren't killed, or couldn't run to the remaining Muslim territories. Although, during night, they had to remain in the so-called "Mourarias", - as Jews had to live in "Judiarias" - in the day they were allowed to be a part of the new Portuguese Lisbon. This was a very advanced policy, since we are talking about the 12th century. Also, the Moors were very educated, and gave the city a new life, regarding commerce, science and also artistic activities. The same happened before in Coimbra, in a smaller level. Afonso Henriques didn't want to lose these achievments. Northern Portugal was more rural, and feudal, as mentioned. Afonso Henriques was also a very mystical man, and very close to the Templars. The first symbol of Afonso Henriques, which can be seen, today in the Portuguese Euro coins of 1, 2 and 5 cents, may be, according to some speculations, a secret message to the Templars within a word game. Por-Tu-Gal - For Your (Holy) Grail. Afonso Henriques was probably a close friend of Ibn Qasi, an islamic sophist and ruler. Sophism was/is a mystical interpretation of Islam, which seeks a direct connection to God, and includes chants, music and dance. It is seen by heretic as most mainstream Islamic doctrines. Again, the mysticism. Nevertheless, Afonso Henriques tried the conquer the most possible Muslim territory he could, while his health alowed him to do so. He died when he was 76 years old. His remnants lie in the Santa Cruz Monastery, in Coimbra. A lot more could be said about Afonso Henriques, but, hopefully, this text was useful and interesting enough as a starting point. Regards! .