On This Day
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King Alfonso VII of Leon recognises Portugal as a Kingdom

Alfonso VII (1 March 1105 – 21 August 1157), called the Emperor (el Emperador), became the King of Galicia in 1111 and King of León and Castile in 1126.

Alfonso VII (1 March 1105 – 21 August 1157), called the Emperor (el Emperador), became the King of Galicia in 1111 and King of León and Castile in 1126. Alfonso, born Alfonso Raimúndez, first used the title Emperor of All Spain, alongside his mother Urraca, once she vested him with the direct rule of Toledo in 1116. Alfonso later held another investiture in 1135 in a grand ceremony reasserting his claims to the imperial title. He was the son of Urraca of León and Raymond of Burgundy, the first of the House of Ivrea to rule in the Iberian Peninsula.

Alfonso was a dignified and somewhat enigmatic figure. His rule was characterised by the renewed supremacy of the western kingdoms of Christian Iberia over the eastern (Navarre and Aragón) after the reign of Alfonso the Battler.

Historical Significance

Alfonso VII (1 March 1105 – 21 August 1157), called the Emperor (el Emperador), became the King of Galicia in 1111 and King of León and Castile in 1126.

Events Before

  1. Battle of Lincoln: English King Stephen captured by forces loyal to Empress Matilda and commanded by Robert, 1st Earl of

    Battle of Lincoln: English King Stephen captured by forces loyal to Empress Matilda and commanded by Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester

  2. Battle of Qatwan [Samarkand]: Seljuqs are defeated by a Kara-Khitan army, signaling the beginning of the end of the Grea

    Battle of Qatwan [Samarkand]: Seljuqs are defeated by a Kara-Khitan army, signaling the beginning of the end of the Great Seljuk Empire

  3. Possible date for establishment of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) League [disputed date - other research places date betwe

    Possible date for establishment of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) League [disputed date - other research places date between 1450 and 1660]

  4. Wrongful execution of noted Song Dynasty General Yue Fei

    Yue Fei, courtesy name Pengju (鵬舉), was a Chinese military general of the Song dynasty and is remembered as a patriotic national hero, known for leading its forces in the wars in the 12th century...

  5. Treaty of Shaoxing ratified with Chinese southern Song Dynasty agreeing to pay tribute to northern Jin dynasty

    Treaty of Shaoxing ratified with Chinese southern Song Dynasty agreeing to pay tribute to northern Jin dynasty

Events After

  1. Gherardo Caccianemici is elected Pope Lucius II, succeeding Celestine II

    Pope Lucius II (died 15 February 1145), born Gherardo Caccianemici dal Orso, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 March 1144 to his death in 1145.

  2. Basilica of St Denis is dedicated near Paris, the first fully Gothic church

    Basilica of St Denis is dedicated near Paris, the first fully Gothic church

  3. Bernardo is elected Pope Eugene III

    Pope Eugene III (Latin: Eugenius III; c. 1080 – 8 July 1153), born Bernardo, called Bernardo da Pisa, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 15 February 1145 to his death...

  4. 19th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet

    Halley's Comet is the only known short-period comet that is consistently visible to the naked eye from Earth, appearing every 72–80 years, though with the majority of recorded apparitions (25 of 30)...

  5. Bernard of Clairvaux preaches his famous sermon in a field at Vézelay, urging the necessity of a Second Crusade. Louis V

    Bernard of Clairvaux preaches his famous sermon in a field at Vézelay, urging the necessity of a Second Crusade. Louis VII and Eleanor of Aquitaine are present and join the Crusade.

More from the 1140s

Bernard of Clairvaux preaches his famous sermon in a field at Vézelay, urging the necessity of a Second Crusade. Louis V

Bernard of Clairvaux preaches his famous sermon in a field at Vézelay, urging the necessity of a Second Crusade. Louis VII and Eleanor of Aquitaine are present and join the Crusade.

European leaders outlaw the crossbow, intending to end war for all time

European leaders outlaw the crossbow, intending to end war for all time

Possible date for establishment of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) League [disputed date - other research places date betwe

Possible date for establishment of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) League [disputed date - other research places date between 1450 and 1660]

Wrongful execution of noted Song Dynasty General Yue Fei

Yue Fei, courtesy name Pengju (鵬舉), was a Chinese military general of the Song dynasty and is remembered as a patriotic national hero, known for leading its forces in the wars in the 12th century...

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on October 5, 1143?
Alfonso VII (1 March 1105 – 21 August 1157), called the Emperor (el Emperador), became the King of Galicia in 1111 and King of León and Castile in 1126. Alfonso, born Alfonso Raimúndez, first used the title Emperor of All Spain, alongside his mother Urraca, once she vested him with the direct rule of Toledo in 1116. Alfonso later held another investiture in 1135 in a grand ceremony reasserting his claims to the imperial title.
Why is King Alfonso VII of Leon recognises Portugal as a Kingdom significant?
Alfonso VII (1 March 1105 – 21 August 1157), called the Emperor (el Emperador), became the King of Galicia in 1111 and King of León and Castile in 1126.

Explore More

October 5 in HistoryYear 1143