History

The city of Guimarães is historically associated with the foundation and identity of the Portuguese nationality. Guimarães, among other settlements, precedes the foundation of Portugal and because of its role in the foundation of the country it is known as the "cradle of the Portuguese nationality". Here took place the main military and political events that would lead to the independence and birth of a new nation. For this reason, it is written in one of the ancient city walls “Aqui nasceu Portugal” – Portugal was born here.

Guimarães was said to be the site of the Battle of São Mamede, which gave victory to the young Dom AfonsoHenriques, thus enabling him to gain independence for the CondadoPortucalense from the Kingdom of León. This paved the way for the founding of the Portuguese Nation.

“In the 11th century, King Afonso VI of Castile and León handed over the governance of the Portucalense Province to Count Dom Henrique, where the latter came to live with his wife, Dona Teresa, the illegitimate daughter of Afonso VI. From this marriage came a son, born in 1111, the boy who would become the first King of Portugal, Dom AfonsoHenriques.

Before Count D. Henrique died in 1114, he succeeded in obtaining for the villa Vimaranes (latin for Guimarães) special royal privileges for its residents.

On the 24th of June, 1128, the Battle of São Mamede took place, some historians claiming it was fought in the area known as the Field of São Mamede adjacent to the Castle of Guimarães. The battle brought together the forces of Dom AfonsoHenriques, who favoured independence from the Kingdom of León, against those of his mother, D. Teresa and her ally, Count Peres de Trava of Galicia (Spain). The battle was won by D. AfonsoHenriques, thus planting the seed for Portuguese Nationhood.

In 1179, AfonsoHenriques was granted the title of King of Portugal by Pope Alexander III in Rome.” (Source:www.cm-guimaraes.pt)