Afonso I of Portugal

Afonso I Henriques (1109–1185), called the Conqueror, was the son of Henry of Burgundy and Theresa of León, counts of Portugal. After Henry died in 1112, Theresa governed with a Galician noble; Portuguese nobles rallied around Afonso, who defeated her at the Battle of São Mamede in 1128 and ruled as count.

He crushed the Moors at Ourique in 1139 and proclaimed himself king of independent Portugal, defeating León to secure it. Second Crusaders helped him take Santarém and Lisbon in 1147, and a papal bull recognized the kingdom. When he died in 1185 he had doubled Portugal's size; his son Sancho I succeeded him.