Battle of Ourique

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The Battle of Ourique (Portuguese: Batalha de Ourique; Arabic: معركة أوريكه) was fought on 25 July 1139, when Portuguese forces under Afonso Henriques defeated forces led by the Almoravid wāli (governor) of Córdoba, Muhammad Az-Zubayr Ibn Umar, who is identified as "King Ismar" in Christian chronicles. The exact location of the battle remains uncertain and has been the subject of considerable debate. Nevertheless, the battle soon acquired major significance and became associated with Afonso Henriques's claim to the title of "king". It became his most celebrated victory over Muslim forces. The battle has long been associated with the Miracle or legend of Ourique, according to which Christ Crucified appeared to Afonso Henriques on the night before the battle and revealed the coat of arms of Portugal. According to tradition, the arms were adopted after the battle, with the five escutcheons interpreted as representing the five vanquished Muslim "kings" said to have participated in the battle.

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