List of Portuguese monarchs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (1606 words) |
 | The First County of Portugal would last for two centuries when the last count, Nuno Mendes, lost the Battle of Pedroso to Garcia II of Galicia and Portugal, son of Ferdinand I of Castile-León, and the first monarch to use the tile "King of Portugal". |
 | However, the Church did not recognize Portugal as an independent country with the right to conquer territories from the Moors until 1179 when Pope Alexander III acknowledged Afonso as king of Portugal, and some argue that that event marks the beginning of the first royal dynasty of Portugal. |
 | The dynasty began with the acclamation of Philip II of Spain as Philip I of Portugal in 1580, officially recognized in 1581 in the Cortes of Tomar. |