ALPHONSO, or ALONSO V. king of Portugal, sur named the .dfrican, succeeded his father king Edward in 1438, when he was only six years of age. He was at first under the tuition of his mother Leonora; but she was removed from the regency in 1440, and Don Pedro, duke of Cambra, uncle to the young prince, was cho sen in her place. The regent's administration was mild but steady. Ile completely possessed the confidence of the people, and supported the dignity of the crown of Portugal with great ability. According to the will of the late king, he married his daughter to Alphonso ; and was eery attentive to the education of that prince. In 1446, he laid down his office, with the approbation of the corms or parliament; but by the malicious in sinuations of his enemies the young king was prejudiced against him, ancL at length persuaded to pursue him as a traitor. Don Pedro took arms in his own defence, but was slain in the first encounter, together with the best and bravest of the nobility, who knew his worth, and supported his cause. Several of his adherents were tortured and put to death ; but his innocence was soon made manifest, and acknowledged by Alphonso, who paid respect to IIIS skewed great attachment to the queen his daughter, and restored his son milk estates and employments. In 1456 Alphonso equipped a large fleet, and prepared a numerous body of troops, for a crusade against the Turks; and, upon this occa sion, it is said that the Portuguese coin cruzadoe was originally struck. But this scheme having been ren dered abortive by the civil wars in Italy, and the death of the pope, Alphonso turned his arms against the Moors in Barbary. He made several expeditions Mt° Africa, reduced Alcacar, Arzila, Tangier, and Sequel., gave signal proofs of his piety and generosity as well as of his courage; and, on account of his exploits, was distinguished by the appellation of The African. His
reputation was now at the greatest height, and the re mainder of his reign might have been equally happy and honourable, had he not embarked in a contest with Ferdinand and Isabella of Castile, respecting the claims of his niece to the crown of that kingdom. Having been very unsuccessful in his first attempts, he made a journey into France, to solicit the assistance of Louis XI.; but having been completely deceived by that mo narch, he lormed a design of visiting the city of Jeru salem, and of retiring for ever from the world. Ile wrote a letter to Portugal resigning his crown, and di recting his son Don Juan to be proclaimed king ; but he was dissuaded from his purpose, and returned home after an absence of about one year. The prince his son, who had governed with great ability, received him with every testimony of satisfaction, and resigned the sove reignty into his hands. Alphonso resumed the war with Castile, and after two years hostilities, concluded a peace in 1479. Weakened by a severe illness, and ren dered melancholy by the ravages of the plague in his dominions, he determined to retire into a monastery ; but on his way to the retreat which he had chosen, he was seized with the plague, and died at Cintra in 1481, in the 49th year of his age and 43d of his reign. This prince was graceful in his person, courteous in his man ners, and much beloved by his subjects. He was boun tiful almost to an extreme, chaste and temperate in his manner of life, a lover of letters, a patron of learned men, and the first king of Portugal who had a library in his palace. Sec Mod. Un. Hist. vol. xxii. p. 141-168.
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