Statue of Vímara Peres in Porto, Portugal
created by Barata Feyo in 1968

Vímara Peres, Count of Portugal (Galicia, circa 820 – Guimarães, 873)^[1] was a Galician Christian duke of the 9th century in west Iberia. He was a vassal of the King of Asturias, Léon and Galicia, Alfonso III, and was sent to reconquer and secure from the Moors (Arabs and Berbers who had invaded Visigothic Hispania), in the west coastal fringe of Gallaecia, the area from the Minho River to the Douro River, including the city of Portus Cale, later Porto and Gaia, from where the name and political entity of Portugal emerged.

In 868 Count Vímara Peres mas named Count of Portugal, after the reconquest of the region north of the Douro river. Later Portuguese historians viewed this event as the earliest milestone in the history of the state of Portugal, although Portugal did not achieve independence until the 12th century.

He was able to expel the Moors and founded a fortified town under his own name Vimaranis (of Vimar) which later became Guimaranis, present day Guimarães (the Portuguese call it "The Cradle City"). Vímara Peres died in 873 in Guimarães. His son, Lucídio Vimaranes (Lucídio, son of Vímara), took control of the county.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ From Vímara (Weimar or Guimar) and the patronymic Peres (son of Pedro – Peter).

[edit] See also

• Portucale
• History of Portugal
• The establishment of the monarchy in Portugal
• Timeline of Portuguese history
  • Al' Garb Al'Andalus and the beginning of the Reconquista (8th to 9th Century)
  • First County of Portugal (9th to 11th Century)
  • Second County of Portugal (11th to 12th Century)
• List of Portuguese monarchs

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