alliance between the Traba family and Teresa. Fernán became her governor in Porto and Coimbra (bearing the title "lord of Coimbra and Portugal"). By 1 February 1121 he was using the title comes (Latin for "count"), the highest in the kingdom, even though his father was still alive and his brother Vermudo had not yet received it, a sure indication of the influence of Teresa. In 1122 Fernán received a further two castles from her and had probably already become her lover. It has been suggested that they may have married, but Fernán was publicly rebuked by the future saint Theotonius for this affair. In that same year (1122) Fernán was able to arrange the advantageous marriage of Vermudo to Urraca Enríquez, daughter of Teresa and Henry. Teresa of Portugal had assumed the regency of the county of Portugal during the minority of her son Afonso Henriques. In 1122, after turning fourteen, Afonso knighted himself in the Cathedral of Zamora, raised an army, and proceeded to take control of his lands. Gathering the Portuguese knights to his cause against his mother and Fernán, he defeated them both at the Battle of São Mamede in 1128. From this year—which was also that of his father's death—Fernán concentrated his influence in Galicia, signing himself comes Fernandus de Gallecie ("Count Ferdinand of Galicia"), a title his father had used. He does soon reappear in Portuguese documents, indicating a normalising of relations between him and Afonso. Role in the defence of the realm under Alfonso VII But now no more in tented fields oppos'd, By Tagus' stream his honour'd age lie clos'd; Yet still his dauntless worth, his virtue lived, And all the father in the son survived. And soon his worth was prov'd, the parent dame Avow'd a second hymeneal flame. The low-born spouse assumes the monarch's place, And from the throne expels the orphan race. But young Alphonso, like his sires of yore (His grandsire's virtues, as his name, he bore), Arms for the fight, his ravish'd throne to win; And the lac'd helmet grasps his beardless chin. —Camoens, The Lusiads (Canto III, part of 28–31) The first tenencia Fernán received from the king was the Limia in 1131. He soon received Trastámara (ruled 1132–45), which was long to be associated with the patrimonies of the Traba. In 1137 he was given the rule of Trasancos and in 1140 that of Monterroso,