ALFONSO III, RE DI PORTOGALLO, DETTO IL RIFORMATORE

ALFONSO III, king of PORTUGAL, known as the Reformer. — Born in 1210, died in 1279. He earned the title of “reformer” for his various civil achievements: protection of industries, stabilization of the currency, granting of privileges to municipalities, suppression of abuses; and above all for his full and definitive victory over the Saracens, wresting from them the “Algarve,” the territory that now forms the southernmost province of Portugal and bore the Arabic name “El Gharb” (= western land). When, however, he sought to extend his reforms even to ecclesiastical matters, especially in the area of ecclesiastical benefices and revenues, he incurred excommunication (1277), from which he was absolved only on his deathbed.