Afonso Sanches

Bibliographic notes

Portuguese Infante, the illegitimate son of King Denis and Aldonça Rodrigues da Telha, Dom Afonso Sanches was born circa 1288, having died in Castile, during the siege of Escalona, in late 1328. In the first quarter of the 14th century he was one of the central characters in the court of his father, with whom he seemed to have a very close relationship. Just before 1308 he marries Dona Teresa Martins, daughter of the first Count of Barcelos, Dom João Afonso de Albuquerque. Bearing already the title of Lord of Albuquerque, he appears, in October of that year, assisting his father with matters of government. The marriage to the rich heiress Dona Teresa considerably augmented his patrimony (already large due to donations from his father), making him one of the most powerful lords of the kingdom. Culminating this period of ascension, in 1313 he became the kingdom’s mordomo-mor (chief of the staff).
Together with his policy of centralization, King Denis’s favoritism of his son Afonso Sanches is one of the main reasons leading to the conflict that, starting in 1318, opposes the king to his rightful heir, the infante Afonso, a conflict that divided the Portuguese nobility and led to several episodes of open warfare, casting a shadow over the last years of his long reign. Just before King Denis’s death, both parties come to a provisory agreement, upon the retirement of Afonso Sanches to his domains in Castile. But right after the passing of Dom Denis, one of the first measures of Afonso IV is the confiscation of all assets, rents and benefits conceded by his father to his half-brother, which retaliates with some armed incursions in Portuguese territory. The conflict will only end around 1328, through the mediation of their mother, Queen Isabel, that obtains the return of the confiscated assets. Afonso Sanches, as stated earlier, will die shortly thereafter.
He is buried, together with his wife, in the Santa Clara de Vila do Conde monastery, founded by the couple in 1318 and the receiver of numerous donations.