Rui de Pina's second volume on King Dinis picks up the story of a king in his prime, ruling Portugal from 1279 to 1325. This isn't a simple timeline of events. Pina, writing with the inside knowledge of a royal chronicler, shows us the day-to-day reality of kingship. We see Dinis navigating bitter disputes with the church over power and money, constantly outmaneuvering his own powerful nobility to strengthen the crown's authority, and dealing with complex family politics, including tensions with his own son, the future Afonso IV.

Why You Should Read It

Forget the distant, statue-like kings. Pina gives us a person. You feel the weight of every decision Dinis makes. The book shines when it shows him not just as a warrior, but as 'The Farmer King,' obsessed with planting forests, promoting agriculture, and founding a university. His passion for building a lasting, prosperous Portugal is palpable. It's fascinating to see a medieval ruler whose legacy was less about conquest and more about careful, stubborn cultivation—of land, law, and culture.

Final Verdict

This is for the reader who loves deep-cut historical drama but wants to skip the Hollywood gloss. It's perfect for anyone curious about how countries are truly built, one policy, one conflict, and one planted tree at a time. You need a little patience for the old-style writing, but the reward is an incredibly intimate portrait of power, family, and legacy that feels surprisingly human. Think of it as a masterclass in medieval statecraft, told by someone who was in the room where it happened.