Teresa was the mother to three of Alfonso's children, but when her marriage to Alfonso was declared invalid because of a discovered familial link which proved them to be cousins, she returned to her familial home of Lorvão, Portugal. There, she founded a Benedictinemonastery. Soon after, she converted the monastery into a large Cistercianconvent, replete with over 300 nuns.
In 1230, Alfonso died after having several children with a second wife, Berenguela of Castile. This second marriage was also annulled because Berenguela was Alfonso's second cousin. With two invalid spouses, there was dispute among the children as to who would inherit the throne. Teresa stepped in and allowed Ferdinand III of Castile, Berenguela's first son, to take the throne of León.
After the succession battle, Teresa returned to Lorvao and finally took her convent vows after years of living as a nun. She died in the convent on June 18, 1250 of natural causes.
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