Alphons

Alphons (Latinized Alphonsus, Adelphonsus, Adefonsus) is a male given name recorded from the 8th century (Alfonso I of Asturias, r. 739-757) in the Christian successor states of the Visigothic kingdom in the Iberian peninsula. In the later medieval period it became a standard name in the Hispanic and Portuguese royal families.

It is derived from a Gothic name, or a conflation of several Gothic names; from *Aþalfuns, composed of the elements aþal "noble" and funs "eager, brave, ready", and perhaps influenced by names such as *Alafuns, *Adefuns and *Hildefuns. It is recorded as Adefonsus in the 9th and 10th century, and as Adelfonsus, Adelphonsus in the 10th to 11th. The reduced form Alfonso is recorded in the late 9th century, and the Portuguese form Afonso from the early 11th.

Variants of the name include: Alfonso (Spanish and Italian), Alfons (Dutch, German, Polish and Scandinavian), Afonso (Portuguese), Alphonse, Alfonse (Italian, French and English), etc.

Middle Ages

Iberian royal families

Alfonso de Cartagena

Alfonso de Santa María de Cartagena (variants: Alfonso de Carthagena, Alonso de Cartagena) (1384, Burgos – 1456, Villasandino) was a Jewish convert to Christianity, a Roman Catholic bishop, diplomat, historian and writer of pre-Renaissance Spain.

Biography

Alfonso de Cartagena was the second son of Rabbi Paul of Burgos, who converted from Judaism to Christianity in 1390 or 1391. At the same time, Alfonso and his four brothers, one sister and two uncles were baptized. His mother, however, was not. Cartagena studied law in Salamanca, and "was a great lawyer in canon and civil law", according to Claros varones de Castilla (1486). He served as dean of Santiago de Compostela and Segovia, later becoming apostolic nuncio and canon of Burgos (1421).

He was equally distinguished as statesman and as priest. In 1434 he was named by King John II de Trastámara (1405–54) as the representative of Castile at the Council of Basel, succeeding Cardinal Alonso de Carrillo. There he composed a famous discourse in Latin and Castilian (Propositio... super altercatione praeminentia, 1434), calling on the council to recognize the superior right of the King of Castile over the King of England.

Alfonso (disambiguation)

Alfonso (Alphonso, Afonso, Alphons, Alphonse) is a masculine given name. It may also refer to:

See also

Ricardo

Ricardo is the Portuguese, Spanish cognate of the name Richard. Therefore, the name means "Powerful/Great Leader".

People

First name

Ricardo (footballer, born 1980)

Ricardo Jorge Ferreira Pinto da Silva (born 19 August 1980), simply known as Ricardo, is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays for F.C. Paços de Ferreira as a central defender or right back.

Club career

Ricardo was born in Azurém, Guimarães, Portugal, and he started playing football with amateurs Centro de Cultura e Desporto Desportivo de Ronfe and GD Serzedelo. In the following three years he played in the third division, representing F.C. Famalicão (one season) and S.C. Freamunde (two).

In the 2004 summer Ricardo moved straight to the Primeira Liga, signing with S.C. Beira-Mar. He featured in 29 games in his first season (24 starts), but suffered team relegation; he continued to appear regularly for the Aveiro club during his spell, overall playing two seasons apiece in each of Portugal's major levels.

Ricardo returned to the top flight for 2008–09, joining F.C. Paços de Ferreira. In the following campaign's opener he scored with his head to earn his team a point against FC Porto in a 1–1 home draw, and was an everpresent defensive figure in his two-year stint.

Ricardo (footballer, born 1976)

Ricardo Alexandre Martins Soares Pereira, OIH (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁiˈkaɾdu]; born 11 February 1976), known simply as Ricardo, is a retired Portuguese professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He spent most of his career with Boavista and Sporting, helping the former to its only Primeira Liga title and appearing with the latter in more than 150 official games, winning one Portuguese Cup. In his 30s he moved abroad, representing mainly Betis.

Ricardo won 79 caps with Portugal, appearing with the nation at two World Cups and as many European Championships, notably reaching the final at Euro 2004.

Club career

Portugal

Born in Montijo, Setúbal, Ricardo started his career at hometown club C.D. Montijo, signing with Boavista F.C. in 1995. After battling during several seasons for first-choice status with William Andem he eventually became first-choice, and appeared in 28 matches in the Chequereds 2000–01 conquest of the national championship, the club history's only.