The sun., 1891-07-26
~.

The reign OF Sancho l.. the son OF Alfonso
HenriIues. did not witness tho attainment BY
Portugal of its present European limits. for 1t
happened to be contemporary with the inva-
sion OF Spain by the groat Almohade Caliph
Yakub. who inflicted a terrible defeat upon
Alfonso VIII. Of CASTLE at the battle OF Alarcos
In 1895. but who spared tho Portuguese upon
their agreement to make the Tagus their
southern boundary. The truth 10 that the
Portuguese were not yet numerous enough to
take poss .ssion OF the provinces which form
the southern part Of tho modern Kingdom.
The great service which Sauoho rendered 20
his country was his revival OF agriculture In
the northern provinces. which resulted In \
largo increase OF tho population In the next
generation. Though temporarily cut of from
southwark extension. beth by treaty and by
lack Of colonists. the little kingdom OF PortuR
had already acquired much prestige In Europe.
as Is shown by the great marriages made hy
King Sanchos children. In these days
Portuguese Ia lies are not distinguished for
good looks but it seems that tho beauty
OF King Sancho's daughters was so famous
that their hands were sought by distant kings.
King John Of England sent an embassy In 1899
to ask In vain for the hand OF an infanta, and
Sancho's youngest daughter. Donna Berenga-
ria. married King Waldemar of Denmark In
1913 Another sister. Donna Theresa, was
united to Alfonso TX. OF Leon. and still another,
Donna Mafalds. to Henry l. Of CASTLE. although
both OF those marriages were subsequently
broken by the Pope on the ground that they
had infrinced The laws OF consanguInty. We
may add that the eldest OF sancho's SOUS. Dom
Alfonso. married Donna Urrsca daughter Of
Alfonso VIII. OF CASTLE and Eleanor Of Eng
land, and the sister OF Blanche who. as Queen
OF France. became tho mother OF Louis TX.
Another son. Dom Ferdinand. married Joanna.
Lady OF Flanders. and fought at tho head OF
the Flemish troops at the battle OF Bouvines.
The reign OF Ssncho's eldest son. Alfonso H..
surnamed tho Tat" Is OF Importance rather
In the constitutions al than in tho political his
tory o. p rtngal. On his fathers death. In
1911. The Young King. acting apparently under
the advice OF the great statesman Juliao. sum.
moned Cortes or Parliament consisting OF
the Bishops. "ndalGoes." and "ricos homens"
OF the realm. This was the first regular as
sembly OF notables ever held In Portugal. the
Cortes OF Lamego, generally asserted to have
met In l1i3. being apocryphnl. In the presence
Of this Cortes Alfonso II. gave his solemn ai-
hesion 70 q compact which his father had made
with the Church. and then propounded law
OF mortmain, drawn up By Juliao. whereby re-
llRtous foundations could receive NO more
legacies OF land because they could not per-
form military service. The young King also
rendered service to the unity OF Portugal By
refusing to han over 10 his brothers the large
estates which King sancho had beIueathsd to
them by his Will.
II was in the recn OF Sancho II. and OF his
brother, Alfonso III. lboth sons oil Aflonso IIh
that tho ex ension OF Portuguese territory to Its
present limits WAS effected bv the final occu.
patton a; III" pr vince Known as The Alemtej,
and the con u St OF the Algsrvss al the OK
treme southW estern angle OF tho peniusulu