ALFONSO II, RE DI PORTOGALLO, DETTO IL GRASSO

ALFONSO II, king of PORTUGAL, called the FAT. — Born in 1185, died in 1223, nephew of Alfonso and son of Sancho I. At the assembly of Coimbra (1211) he issued the first general laws of the nation, in which the rights and privileges of the Church were also defined. He ruled wisely; he introduced the law that death sentences were not to be carried out until after 20 days, so that time might be allowed for pardon; he fostered the rise of free municipalities and showed himself very generous. But relations between State and Church were disturbed by various disputes, on account of ecclesiastical privileges, which led to his being excommunicated by Honorius III, from which he seems to have been absolved after reconciling himself with the Church. He shares with the other Christian kings of the Iberian peninsula the victory of Las Navas de Tolosa over the Moors (1212).