Battle of Ourique

Covadonga - Valdejunquera - Simancas - Grey - Zallaqa - Ucles - Fraga - Ourique - Lisbon - Alarcos - Las Navas de Tolosa - Córdoba - Jerez - Teba - Salado - La Higueruela - Granada

The Battle of Ourique took place on July 25, 1139, perhaps in the vicinity of the town of Ourique in today's Alentejo ( southern Portugal ) instead. The opponents were the Portuguese Count Alfons and the Almoravids under the command of Ali ibn Yusuf rule.

The actual venue for the decisive battle is unknown, most historians accept the battlefield near the village of Vila Cha de Ourique at what lies much further north than the traditionally identified with the date mentioned in the chronicles Aurik site of the Battle of Ourique in the area of ​​Lisbon.

The Muslim troops were composed of the militia of the city Badajoz, Elvas, Évora, Beja and Seville. Although the Portuguese were outnumbered, the Muslim armies were weakened by leadership problems so that Alfonso decided the battle for themselves.

The enthusiasm about his victory took Alfonso to stand up to the king of Portugal from the rank of Count. He broke up with it from the feudal dependence of King Alfonso VII of Castile and León and established the Kingdom of Portugal.