ALPHONSO V., "Africano," was born in 1432, and succeeded his
father Edward in 1438. During his minority he was placed under
the regency, first of his mother and latterly of his uncle, Dom
Pedro. In 1448 he assumed the reins of government and at
the same time married Isabella, Dom Pedro's daughter. In the
following year, being led by what he afterwards discovered
to be false representations, he declared Dom Pedro a rebel
and defeated his army in a battle at Alfarrobeira, in which
his uncle was slain. In 1458, and with more numerous forces
in 1471, he invaded the territories of the Moors in
Africa
and by his successes there acquired his surname of "the
African." On his return to
Portugal in 1475 his ambition
led him into Castile, where two princesses were disputing
his succession to the throne. Having been affianced to the
Princess Juana, Alphonso caused himself to be proclaimed
king of Castile and Leon; but in the following year he was
defeated at Toro by Ferdinand, the husband of Isabella of
Castile. He went to
France to obtain the assistance of Louis
XI., but finding himself deceived by the French monarch, he
abdicated in favour of his son John. When he returned to
Portugal, however, he was compelled by his son to resume
the sceptre, which he continued to wield for two years
longer. After that he fell into a deep melancholy and
retired into a monastery at Cintra, where he died in 1481.
Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed