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1128. APRIL. A CHAMBER IN THE ROYAL RESIDENCE OF GUIMARÃES . . .
According to the account by a Spanish historian, the conversation between Afonso Henriques, his mother, and her husband, Count Fernán Péres de Traba, went something like this:
Fernán: “Prince, let us not tire ourselves anymore over this contest, but fight me in battle one day, me and you, whenever you want, and either you will leave this kingdom, or I.”
Afonso: “It would not please God very much if your wish is to kick me out of the lands that my father inherited.”
Tareja: “It is my land, my father gave it to me, and allowed me to inherit it.”
Fernán (to his wife): “Let’s end this discussion or I will drag you back to Galiza; or leave the lands to your son, if it makes us more powerful.”1
This cordial family scene could only mean one thing: Afonso Henriques had fully returned from the exile his mother had imposed, and, judging by his boldness to show his face at court, his war so far was proving very successful. On his way to Guimarães he took the opportunity to seize the castles of Faria and Neiva, overran other nearby battlements, reclaimed towns around Braga for good measure, and a quick glance beyond the windows of the palace would have shown that his troops were now in plain view of the royal seat. And now that we know just what a manipulative and dysfunctional family he had, one sympathizes.
Afonso Henriques’s confidence as a knight was ascendant, no doubt bolstered by the good news that had just reached him from Troyes of the Knights Templar securing formal papal approval.
His relationship with the Order, not to mention the military advantage they presented, was becoming ever more obvious with the string of battles already won. Clearly the opposition’s gamble to buy the Templars’ affection with the donation of Souré had not paid off.
If the fortune of the gods favored the just, the time to strike for an independent kingdom was now. Afonso picked a location for a showdown with his mother and Fernán Péres de Traba on the fields of São Mamede, just beyond the walls of Guimarães.
He kneeled to his God and prayed for guidance. The confrontation would take place on the feast day of John the Baptist.
Castle of Guimarães.