Peres, Vimara

(820-873) was a Galician 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 the area from the Minho River to the Douro River, including the city of Portus Cale, later Porto and Gaia, from where the name of Portugal emerged. In 868 count Vímara Peres was named Count of Portugal, after the reconquest of the region north of the Douro river. Portuguese historians view this event as the earliest milestone in the history of the state of Portugal, although Portugal did not achieve independence until the 12th century.