Henry, Count of Portugal
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Henry of Burgundy, Count of Portugal (1066–1112) was Count of Portugal from 1093 to his death. He was the son of Henry of Burgundy, heir of Robert I, Duke of Burgundy, and brother of Hugh I, Duke of Burgundy and Eudes I, Duke of Burgundy. His name is Henri in modern French, Henricus in Latin, Enrique in modern Spanish and Henrique in modern Portuguese.
- Main article: The Establishment of the Monarchy in Portugal.
As a younger son, Henry had little chances of acquiring fortune and titles by inheritance, thus he joined the Reconquista against the Moors in the Iberian Peninsula. He helped king Alfonso VI of Castile conquer modern Galicia and the north of Portugal and in reward he married Alfonso's daughter Theresa, Countess of Portugal in 1093, receiving the County of Portugal, then a fiefdom of the Kingdom of León, as a dowry.
From Teresa, Henry had several sons. The only one to survive childhood was Afonso Henriques, who became the second Count of Portugal in 1112. However, the young man Afonso was energetic and expanded his dominions at the expense of Muslims. In 1139, he declared himself King of Portugal after reneging the subjugation to Leon, in open confrontation with his mother.
House of Burgundy Cadet Branch of the House of Capet Born: 1066; Died: 1112 |
Vacant Title last held by Nuno II |
Count of Portugal 1093–1112 |
Succeeded by Afonso I |
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