Historical Context 1455 – 1476
D. Afonso V – The County of Feira
Afonso V was acclaimed king at the age of six and later married his cousin, Isabel of Lancaster, with whom he had three children. Until he reached adulthood, the kingdom was governed by his uncle, Infante D. Pedro, Duke of Coimbra, who served as regent.
Shortly after Afonso V came of age, the House of Bragança orchestrated a series of intrigues and conspiracies against the regent, leading to a conflict that culminated in the Battle of Alfarrobeira, where Infante D. Pedro was killed. This tragic event, though unfavorable to the king, drew attention across European courts and provoked widespread condemnation — including from the Holy See.
Queen Isabel, the protector of the Lóios friars, died in 1455. Despite having several marriage prospects, King Afonso V entered into a betrothal in 1475 with his niece, Joana of Castile — queen de jure of that kingdom — thus involving himself in the dispute over the Castilian throne.
The five-year conflict culminated in the Battle of Toro (1476), a royal confrontation often compared to the Battle of Aljubarrota. Political propaganda from both kingdoms portrayed the outcome as a victory, with each side claiming success.
King Afonso V entered history with the epithet “The African”, carrying the spirit of the Crusades to the lands of Mauritania. He led the conquest of key cities such as Alcácer Ceguer (1458), Anafa, Asilah (Arzila), and Tangier. At his side fought loyal and valiant knights. Though praised by the great lords of the realm, the king knew that their flattery was often insincere, driven by “hidden motives”.
Even so, he continued to grant titles and establish counties — one of them being the County of Feira, believed to have been created around 1472. The title was awarded to Rui Pereira, lord of the Land of Santa Maria and its castle, in recognition of his support and the actions of his squires and men-at-arms during the conquest of Arzila and the surrender of Tangier. Rui Pereira would later fight at the Battle of Toro, commanding one of the flanks in that decisive confrontation.
According to the chroniclers, King Afonso V was a man of the Arts and Letters — “a skilled writer, with an excellent memory, mature in understanding, and of subtle intellect.” He ordered the reform of the royal archives (Torre do Tombo) and the royal library, created scholarships for young noblemen studying Law, and founded a second General Study (university) in Coimbra, along with other cultural institutions across the kingdom.
He took pleasure in presenting himself to the people and mingling among them. A devoted follower of Saint Anthony, he was a deeply committed Christian — “a man of great humanity and human sensibility”.
A true man of his time.
