Denis of Portugal
King of Portugal
Died when: 63 years 90 days (758 months)Star Sign: Libra
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Denis (Portuguese: Dinis or Diniz, IPA: [di'ni?]; 9 October 1261 – 7 January 1325 in Santarém), called the Farmer King (Rei Lavrador) and the Poet King (Rei Poeta), was King of Portugal.
The eldest son of Afonso III of Portugal by his second wife, Beatrice of Castile, and grandson of Afonso II of Portugal, Denis succeeded his father in 1279.
His marriage to Elizabeth of Aragon, who was later canonised as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church, was arranged in 1281 when she was 10 years old.
Denis ruled Portugal for over 46 years.He worked to reorganise his country's economy and gave an impetus to Portuguese agriculture.
He ordered the planting of a large pine forest (that still exists today) near Leiria to prevent the soil degradation that threatened the region and to serve as a source of raw materials for the construction of the royal ships.
He was also known for his poetry, which constitutes an important contribution to the development of Portuguese as a literary language.
Related People
King of Portugal
King of Portugal
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King of Portugal