King Afonso V

Afonso V (1432 –  1481) was the twelfth king of Portugal (1338-1481), the third king of the second dynasty, also known as the Avis dynasty. 

When his father, King Duarte, died, Afonso was only six years old. He was a child and, therefore, it was his mother, Eleanor of Aragon and later his uncle, Peter, who took over the governance of Portugal. In 1449, Afonso V defeated his uncle at the Battle of Alfarrobeira and was finally able to ascend the throne. 

When he was in Lisbon, the king would stay at Castle Palace and, as a result, undertook several construction projects with the aim of making the palace more comfortable and to his liking. He had a library built with many books and bought furniture for the archive that was located in one of the castle’s towers, known as the Torre do Tombo. 

The marriage of his sister, Eleanor, to Frederick III, Emperor of Germany, took place at the Royal Palace at the castle. And on the 3 May, 1455, John III, son of Afonso V and future king of Portugal, was born in one of the palace rooms. 

Afonso V had two African lions kept in a special room that became known as the House of Lions?

Afonso V had two African lions kept in a special room that became known as the House of Lions? Keeping wild animals was a fashion amongst European monarchs at the time.