The County of Santarém was a political and military entity formed during the Reconquista in the Iberian Peninsula. Its foundation is closely linked to the Christian efforts to expand their territories southward, particularly in what would later become Portugal. Santarém, located in the Ribatejo region of central Portugal, played a significant role as a strategic stronghold during the Reconquista, and its capture by Christian forces was a major turning point in the struggle against Muslim rule.