Afonso Henriques da Costa Guimarães was born on July 24, 1870, in the city of Ouro Preto in Minas Gerais.

During his early life he suffered the premature loss of his cousin and fiancée, Constança, a fact that deeply affected him emotionally and physically.

In 1895, in the city Rio de Janeiro, Guimaraes met João da Cruz e Sousa, a poet whom he already admired, and became a close friend of him.

In the year of 1899, he premiered in literature with two volumes of verses: Septenário das Dores de Nossa Senhora e Câmara Ardente and Dona Mística; both showing clear Symbolistic influences.

In 1902 he published Kiriale, under the pseudonym of Alphonsus de Guimaraens; this opened opportunities in the literary world, giving him recognition, however restricted.