BIOGRAPHY
Afonso, known as 'the Fat', was born in Coimbra on 23 April 1185, the second but eldest surviving son of Sancho I 'o Povoador', king of Portugal, and Dulce of Barcelona, princess of Aragón. About 1206 Afonso married Urraca of Castile; they had five children of whom three would have progeny: their second son Afonso III and his younger siblings Eleanora and Fernando.

Afonso succeeded his father in 1211. As king, Afonso II set a different approach to government. Hitherto, his father Sancho I and his grandfather Afonso I were mostly concerned with military issues, either against neighbouring Castile or against the Moors in the south. Afonso did not pursue territory enlargement and managed to ensure peace with Castile during his reign. Despite this, some towns, like Alcácer do Sal in 1217, were conquered from the Moors through the initiative of individual nobles. This should not be seen as reflecting on Afonso's strength or courage as a ruler. The first years of his reign were marked by internal disturbances between Afonso and his brothers and sisters. The king managed to keep security within Portuguese borders only by outlawing and exiling his kin.

Since military issues were not a government priority, Afonso established the state's administration and centralised power on himself. He designed the first set of Portuguese written laws. These were mainly concerned with private property, civil justice, and minting. Afonso also sent ambassadors to European kingdoms outside the Iberian Peninsula and began amiable commercial relations with most of them.

Other reforms included the perennially delicate matters with the pope. In order to get the independence of Portugal recognised by the popes, his grandfather Afonso I had to legislate an enormous amount of privileges to the Church. These eventually created a state within the state. With Portugal's position as a country firmly established, Afonso II endeavoured to weaken the power of the clergy and to apply a portion of the enormous revenues of the Church to purposes of national utility. These actions led to a serious diplomatic conflict between the pope and Portugal. After being excommunicated for his audacity by Pope Honorius III, Afonso II promised to make amends to the Church. However he died on 25 March 1223 in Coimbra, before making any serious attempts to do so.