Rui de Pina wasn't just a historian; he was a royal secretary who walked the same halls as the people he wrote about. In this second volume, he picks up the complex story of King Dinis I, a king known as 'the Farmer' for his work promoting agriculture, but whose reign was anything but peaceful.

The Story

This isn't a simple biography. Pina shows us a king constantly juggling crises. We see Dinis trying to strengthen Portugal's economy and culture, founding a university and supporting literature. But at every turn, he's dealing with political fires: a bitter, long-running conflict with the church, the ambitions of powerful noble families, and a deeply personal feud with his own son and heir, the future King Afonso IV. The tension between father and son threatens to tear the kingdom apart, and Pina lays it all out with the urgency of someone who knows how high the stakes are.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this special is Pina's voice. You get the sense he's leaning in, telling you the real story behind the official records. He doesn't hide the king's flaws or the messy, human reasons behind big decisions. It transforms distant historical figures into recognizable people—a stressed father, a shrewd politician, a stubborn leader. Reading it feels like uncovering secret memos from the medieval past.

Final Verdict

Perfect for history buffs who want to go beyond dates and battles, and for anyone who loves political intrigue. If you enjoy shows about power struggles in royal courts, you'll find the original blueprint here. It's a challenging but incredibly rewarding look at how a nation was built, one difficult decision at a time.