Family of Alfonso IX + FERNANDEZ and Berengaria +

Husband:	Alfonso IX + FERNANDEZ (1171-1230)
Wife:	Berengaria + (1180-1246)
Children:	Berenguela + (1198- )
	Fernand III + of CASTILE (1199-1252)
	Constance FERNANDEZ (1200- )
	Leonor FERNANDEZ (1202- )
	Alfonso FERNANDEZ (1203-1272)
Status:	Divorced
Marriage	"12/1197"	Valladolid, Spain

Husband: Alfonso IX + FERNANDEZ

Name:	Alfonso IX + FERNANDEZ
Sex:	Male
Father:	Fernando II + ALFONSEZ (1137-1188)
Mother:	Urraca + AFFONSEZ (1151-1188)
Birth	15 Aug 1171	Zamora, Leon, Spain
Occupation		King of Castile and Leon
Title		King of Castile and Leon
Death	24 Sep 1230 (age 59)	Villadolid, Spain

Wife: Berengaria +

Name:	Berengaria +1,2
Sex:	Female
Father:	Alfonso VIII + SANCHEZ (1155-1214)
Mother:	Eleanor + (1162-1214)
Birth	1 Jun 1180	Buegoa, Castile,
Occupation		Queen of Castile
Title		Queen of Castile
Death	8 Nov 1246 (age 66)	Monastery of the Huelgas, Burgos, Castile-Leon, Spain

Child 1: Berenguela +

Name:	Berenguela +
Sex:	Female
Spouse:	Jean + (1155-1237)
Birth	1198	Leon, Castile-Leon, Spain
Occupation		Princess of Leon and Castile
Title		Princess of Leon and Castile

Child 2: Fernand III + of CASTILE

Child 3: Constance FERNANDEZ

Name:	Constance FERNANDEZ
Sex:	Female
Birth	1200

Child 4: Leonor FERNANDEZ

Name:	Leonor FERNANDEZ
Sex:	Male
Birth	1202

Child 5: Alfonso FERNANDEZ

Name:	Alfonso FERNANDEZ
Sex:	Male
Birth	1203
Death	1272 (age 68-69)

Note on Husband: Alfonso IX + FERNANDEZ

Alfonso IX (15 August 1171 – 23 or 24 September 1230) was king of León and Galicia from the death of his father Ferdinand II in 1188 until his own death. According to Ibn Khaldun (1332–1406), he is said to have been called the Baboso or Slobberer because he was subject to fits of rage during which he foamed at the mouth.

Alfonso was born in Zamora, the only son of King Ferdinand II of León and Urraca of Portugal.[1] He took a part in the work of the reconquest, conquering the whole of Extremadura (including the cities of Cáceres and Badajoz).

 

He took steps towards modernizing and democratizing his dominion, founding the University of Salamanca in 1212. And in 1188 summoning the first parliament reflecting full representation of the citizenry ever seen in Western Europe, the Cortes of León.[2]

 

The convening of the Cortes de León in the cloisters of the Basilica of San Isidoro would be one of the most important events of Alfonso's reign. The difficult economic situation at the beginning of his reign compelled Alfonso to raise taxes on the underprivileged classes, leading to protests and a few towns revolts. In response the king summoned the Cortes, an assembly of nobles, clergy and representatives of cities, and subsequently faced demands for compensatory spending and greater external control and oversight of royal expenditures. Alfonso's convening of the Cortes is considered by many historians, including Australia's John Keane,[3] to be instrumental to the formation democratic parliaments across Europe.

 

The Cortes' 1188 session predates the first session of the Parliament of England, which occurred in in the thirteenth century.

 

In spite of the democratic precedent represented by the Cortes and the founding of the University of Salamanca, Alfonso is often chiefly remembered for the difficulties his successive marriages caused between him with Pope Celestine III. He was first married in 1191 to his cousin, Teresa of Portugal,[2] who bore him two daughters, and a son who died young. The marriage was declared null by the papal legate Cardinal Gregory.

 

After Alfonso VIII of Castile was defeated at the Battle of Alarcos, Alfonso IX invaded Castile with the aid of Muslim troops.[2] He was summarily excommunicated by Pope Celestine III. In 1197, Alfonso IX married his second cousin, Berenguela of Castile, to cement peace between León and Castile. For this act of consanguinity, the king and the kingdom were placed under interdict by Celestine.[4]

 

The Pope was, however, compelled to modify his measures by the threat that, if the people could not obtain the services of religion, they would not support the clergy, and that heresy would spread. The king was left under interdict personally, but to that he showed himself indifferent, and he had the support of his clergy. Berenguela left him after the birth of five children, and the king then returned to Teresa, to whose daughters he left his kingdom in his will.

 

[edit] ChildrenAlfonso's children by Theresa of Portugal[5] were:

 

1) Ferdinand (ca. 1192-August 1214, aged around 22), unmarried and without issue

2) Sancha (ca. 1193-1270), unmarried and without issue

3) Dulce, also called Aldonza (1194/ca. 1195-ca./aft. 1243), unmarried and without issue

His eldest daughter, Sancha, was engaged to her cousin King Henry I of Castile, but Henry died in 1217 before the marriage could be solemnized. After his heir, from his first marriage (Ferdinand of León) died in 1214, Alfonso wanted to dis-inherit the eldest son from his second marriage (Ferdinand III of Castile).[citation needed] King Alfonso IX invited the former King Consort of Jerusalem John of Brienne to marry his daughter Sancha and thus inherit the Leonese throne through her.

 

However, his former second wife, Queen Berengaria of Castile sabotaged this plan by convincing John of Brienne to marry her own daughter by Alfonso, Berengaria of León, instead.

 

Though unmarried and pious spinster, Sancha was the nominal heiress of León-Galicia on her father's death in 1230. Sancha was easily set aside by negotiations, including a good single woman dowry between the former first wife and the former second wife. Sancha became a nun at Cozollos, where she died in 1270; she was later beatified. Her sister Dulce-Aldonza spent her life with her mother in Portugal.

 

Alfonso's children by Berengaria of Castile were:[6]

 

4) Eleanor (1198/1199-31 October 1210)

5) King Ferdinand III the Saint (1200–1252)

6) Alfonso, 4th Lord of Molina (1203–1272)

7) Berengaria of León (1204–1237), married John of Brienne

8) Constance (1 May 1200 or 1205-7 September 1242), became a nun at Las Huelgas, Burgos, where she died

Alfonso also fathered many illegitimate children, some fifteen further children born out of wedlock are documented.

 

Alfonso's children by Aldonza Martínez de Silva[7][8] (daughter of Martin Gomez de Silva & Urraca Rodriguez), later married to Diego Froilaz, Count of Cifuentes:

 

9) Pedro Alfonso of León, 1st Lord of Tenorio (ca. 1196/ca. 1200-1226), Grand Master of Santiago, married N de Villarmayor, and had issue

10) Alfonso Alfonso of León, died yong

11) Fernando Alfonso of León, died young

12) Rodrigo Alfonso of León (ca. 1210-ca. 1267), 1st Lord of Aliger and Governor of Zamora, married ca. 1240 to Inés Rodriguez de Cabrera (ca. 1200-), and had issue

13) Teresa Alfonso of León (ca. 1210-), wife of Nuno Gonzalez de Lara, el Bueno, señor de Lara

14) Aldonza Alonso of León (ca. 1212/ca. 1215-1266), wife, first, of Diego Ramírez Froilaz, nephew of her stepfather, without issue, and, second, of Pedro Ponce de Cabrera, (ca. 1210-), and had issue, ancestors of the Ponce de León family.

Alfonso's child by Inés Iñíguez de Mendoza (born c. 1180) (daughter of Lope Iñiguez de Mendoza, 1st Lord of Mendoza (ca. 1140-1189) and wife Teresa Ximénez de los Cameros (ca. 1150-)):

 

15) Urraca Alfonso of León (ca. 1190/ca. 1197-), first wife ca. 1230 of Lopo II Díaz de Haro (1192-15 December 1236), 6th Sovereign Lord of Viscaya and had issue, including Mécia Lopes de Haro.

Alfonso's child by Estefánia Pérez de Limia, daughter of Pedro Arias de Limia and wife, subsequently wife of Rodrigo Suárez, Merino mayor of Galicia, had issue):

 

16) Fernando Alfonso of León (born c. 1211), died young

Alfonso's children by Maua, of unknown origin:

 

17) Fernando Alfonso of León (ca. 1215/1218/1220-Salamanca, 1278/1279), Archdean of Santiago, married to Aldara de Ulloa and had issue

Alfonso's children by Teresa Gil de Soverosa (born c. 1170) (daughter of Dom Gil Vasques de Soverosa & first wife Maria Aires de Fornelos):

 

18) María Alfonso of León (ca. 1190/1200/1222-aft. 1252), married as his second wife Soeiro Aires de Valadares (ca. 1140-) and had issue and Álvaro Fernández de Lara (ca. 1200-) and had female issue, later mistress of her nephew Alfonso X of Castile

19) Sancha Alfonso of León (1210/ca. 1210-1270), a Nun after divorcing without issue Simón Ruíz, Lord of Los Cameros

20) Martín Alfonso of León (ca. 1210/ca. 1225-1274/ca. 1275)

21) Urraca Alfonso of León (ca. 1210/1228-aft.1252, married twice, first to García Romeu of Tormos, without issue, then Pedro Guillén de Guzmán

Alfonso's other illegitimate child, mother unknown:

 

22) Mayor Alfonso de León, married Rodrigo Gómez de Trava, without issue

Note on Wife: Berengaria +

Berengaria of Castile ( Segovia , June 1 of 1180 - Monasterio de las Huelgas , Burgos , November 8 of 1246 ). Fue Reina de Castilla [ 2 ] en 1217 y reina consorte de León entre 1197 y 1204 . It was Queen of Castile [2] in 1217 and Queen consort of León between 1197 and 1204 .

 

Family Origins Hija primogénita del rey castellano Alfonso VIII y de su esposa, Leonor Plantagenet , era bisnieta de otra Berenguela , la esposa de Alfonso VII de Castilla y hermana de Ramón Berenguer IV de Barcelona . Eldest daughter of the Castilian King Alfonso VIII and his wife, Leonor Plantagenet , was the granddaughter of another Berengaria , the wife of Alfonso VII of Castile and sister of Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona . Por línea materna era nieta de Enrique II de Inglaterra y de otra importante mujer de la época, Leonor de Aquitania . Through the mother was the granddaughter of Henry II of England and other important women of the era, Eleanor of Aquitaine .

 

[ editar ] Política matrimonial [ edit ] Marriage Policy En el momento de su nacimiento, Berenguela era la única hija de los reyes, ya que los infantes nacidos con anterioridad no habían sobrevivido, por lo que era la heredera nominal al trono castellano y la convertía en un partido muy deseado en toda Europa. At the time of his birth, Berengaria was the only daughter of kings, since infants born before they had survived, what was the nominal heir to the Castilian throne and became a much desired match in Europe.

 

El primer compromiso matrimonial de Berenguela se acuerda en 1187 cuando pide su mano Conrado , duque de Rothenburg y quinto hijo del emperador germánico Federico I Barbarroja . The first engagement of Berengaria agreed in 1187 when his hand asks Conrad , Duke of Rothenburg and fifth son of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa . Al año siguiente, en Seeligenstadt , se firma el contrato matrimonial, tras lo cual Conrado marchó a Castilla, donde en la ciudad de Carrión se celebraron los esponsales y el joven conde fue armado caballero. The following year, in Seeligenstadt , signed the marriage contract, after which Conrad went to Castile, where in the city of Carrion 's betrothal took place and the young Earl was knighted.

 

El matrimonio no llegó a consumarse, en un primer momento por la edad de Berenguela y después porque los reyes tuvieron en 1189 un hijo varón, Fernando, que pasó a ser designado heredero al trono. The marriage did not take place, at first by the age of Berengaria and then because the kings had in 1189 a son, Fernando, who went on to be appointed heir to the throne. Con ello, el emperador Federico, viendo frustradas sus aspiraciones en Castilla perdió todo interés en mantener la boda de su hijo a pesar de la dote de 42.000 aureos de la infanta. With this, the Emperor Frederick, looking frustrated their aspirations in Castilla lost interest in keeping the wedding of her son despite the dowry of 42,000 heydays of the Infanta. Conrado y Berenguela jamás volverían a verse. Conrad and Berengaria never meet again. Berenguela solicitó al Papa la anulación del compromiso, seguramente influida por agentes externos, como su abuela Leonor de Aquitania, a quien no interesaba tener a un Hohenstaufen como vecino de sus feudos franceses. Berengaria requested the cancellation of the commitment Pope, probably influenced by external agents, like his grandmother Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was not interested in having a Hohenstaufen as a neighbor of his French fiefs. Pero estos temores se verían posteriormente neutralizados cuando el duque fue asesinado en 1196 . But these fears would be subsequently neutralized when the duke was assassinated in 1196 .

 

Dos años más tarde ( 1198 ), Berenguela se casó en la ciudad de Valladolid con el Rey de León Alfonso IX , pariente suyo en tercer grado (era su tío segundo). Two years later ( 1198 ), married Berengaria in the city of Valladolid to the King of Leon Alfonso IX , relative in third grade (it was his great-uncle). De este matrimonio nacerán cinco hijos: This couple will have five children:

 

Berenguela ( 1198 - 1235 ), casada con Juan de Brienne , Rey-regente de Jerusalén ; Berengaria ( 1,198 - 1 235 ), married to John of Brienne , King-regent of Jerusalem ;

Constanza ( 1200 - 1242 ), monja en el monasterio de las Huelgas ; Constance ( 1,200 - one thousand two hundred forty-two ), a nun in the monastery of Las Huelgas ;

Fernando ( 1201 - 1252 ), futuro rey de Castilla y de León, con el nombre de Fernando III; Fernando ( 1201 - 1,252 ), future king of Castile and Leon, with the name of Fernando III;

Leonor (1202); Leonor (1202);

Alfonso ( 1203 - 1272 ), Señor de Molina y Mesa por su primer matrimonio. Alfonso ( one thousand two hundred and three - one thousand two hundred seventy-two ), Lord of Molina and officers for their first marriage. Se casó sucesivamente con Mafalda de Lara , heredera de Molina y Mesa, con Teresa Nuñez y con Mayor Téllez de Meneses , Señora de Montealegre y Tiedra –de este último enlace nacería la célebre María de Molina , esposa de Sancho IV de León y Castilla –. Successively married Mafalda de Lara , heir to Molina and Mesa, with Teresa Nuñez and Mayor Téllez de Meneses , Lady Tiedra-Montealegre and the latter link would be born the famous Maria de Molina , wife of Sancho IV of Castile - .

Pero en 1204, el Papa Inocencio III anuló el matrimonio alegando el parentesco de los cónyuges, a pesar de que Celestino III lo había permitido en su momento. But in 1204, Pope Innocent III annulled the marriage claiming the relationship of the spouses, although Celestine III had allowed at the time. Ésta era la segunda anulación tanto para Berenguela como para Alfonso, que solicitaron vehementemente una dispensa para permanecer juntos. This was the second cancellation for both Berenguela to Alfonso, who vehemently requested a waiver to stay together. Pero este Papa fue uno de los más duros en cuestiones matrimoniales, así que se les denegó, aunque consiguieron que su descendencia fuese considerada como legítima. But this pope was one of the toughest in matrimonial matters and that they were denied, but got his offspring were regarded as legitimate.

 

Disuelto el lazo matrimonial, Berenguela regresa a Castilla al lado de sus padres, donde se dedicó al cuidado de sus hijos. Dissolved the marriage bond, returned to Castile Berengaria alongside their parents, where he devoted himself to caring for their children.

 

[ editar ] Regente de Castilla [ edit ] Regent of Castile

 

Castillo de Doña Berenguela en Bolaños de Calatrava Ciudad Real Lady Berengaria Castle in Bolaños de Calatrava Ciudad Real Al morir Alfonso VIII en 1214 , heredó la corona el joven Príncipe Enrique (tercer hijo varón del difunto Rey y único superviviente) que tan sólo contaba con 10 años de edad, por lo que se abrió un período de regencia, primero bajo la madre de rey, que duró exactamente 24 días, hasta su muerte; y luego bajo la de su hermana Berenguela. [ 3 ] When Alfonso VIII died in 1214 , inherited the crown, the young Prince Henry (third son of the late King and the only survivor) that he was only 10 years old, so began a period of regency, first under the mother King, which lasted exactly 24 days until his death, and then under that of his sister Berengaria. [3]

 

Comenzaron entonces disturbios internos ocasionados por la nobleza, principalmente por la casa de Lara y que obligan a Berenguela a ceder la tutoría del rey y la regencia del reino al conde Álvaro Núñez de Lara para evitar conflictos civiles en el reino. Then began internal disturbances caused by the nobility, mainly due to Lara's house and force to give the tutorial Berengaria the king and the regency of the kingdom to Count Álvaro Núñez de Lara to avoid civil strife in the kingdom.

 

En febrero de 1216 , se celebró en Valladolid una curia extraordinaria a la que asistieron magnates castellanos como Lope Díaz de Haro, Gonzalo Rodríguez Girón , Álvaro Díaz de Cameros , Alfonso Téllez de Meneses y otros, que acuerdan, con el apoyo de doña Berenguela, hacer frente común ante Álvaro Núñez de Lara. In February 1216 , was held in Valladolid an extraordinary curia attended Castilian magnates as Lope Díaz de Haro, Gonzalo Rodriguez Giron , Alvaro Díaz de Cameros , Alfonso Téllez de Meneses , and others who agree, with the support of Mrs. Berengaria a common front against Álvaro Núñez de Lara. A finales de mayo de este mismo año, la situación se ha tornado peligrosa en Castilla para Dña. Berenguela. In late May this year the situation has become dangerous for Mrs. Berengaria Castile. Por ello, decide refugiarse en el castillo de Autillo (Palencia) cuyo tenente es el noble Gonzalo Rodríguez Girón (uno de los fieles a la regente) y envía a su hijo Fernando (el futuro rey) a la corte de León, con su padre, Alfonso IX. Therefore, takes refuge in the castle of Autillo (Palencia) which is the noble tenente Gonzalo Rodríguez Girón (one of the faithful to the ruler) and sends his son Ferdinand (later King) to the court of León, with her ??father Alfonso IX. El 15 de agosto de 1216 se produce una reunión de todos los magnates del reino de Castilla para intentar llegar a un acuerdo que evite la guerra civil, pero las desavenencias llevan a los Girón, los Téllez de Meneses y los Haro a alejarse definitivamente de don Álvaro. On August 15th of 1216 was a meeting of all the magnates of the kingdom of Castile, to try to reach an agreement to avoid civil war, but the disagreements leading to the Bay of Pigs, the Téllez de Meneses and Haro definitely away gift Álvaro.

 

[ editar ] Reina de Castilla [ edit ] Queen of Castile Las circunstancias cambiaron repentinamente cuando Enrique falleció el 6 de junio de 1217 después de recibir una herida en la cabeza de una teja que se desprendió accidentalmente cuando se encontraba jugando con otros niños en el palacio del obispo de Palencia . Circumstances changed suddenly when Henry died on June 6 of 1217 after receiving a wound in the head of a tile that fell off accidentally while he was playing with other children in the palace of the bishop of Palencia . Su tutor, el conde Alvar Núñez de Lara intentó ocultar los hechos, llevándose el cadáver del rey al castillo de Tariego , aunque no se pudo evitar que la noticia llegase a la reina Berenguela. His guardian, Count Alvar Nunez de Lara tried to hide the facts, taking the corpse of the king's castle Tariego , but could not prevent the news came to Queen Berengaria.

 

Esto hizo que el trono de Castilla pasara a Berenguela, quien en el acto de proclamación, celebrado el 31 de agosto , renunció al trono en favor de su hijo Fernando . This made ??the pass to the throne of Castile Berengaria, who in the proclamation, signed on August 31 , renounced the throne in favor of his son Fernando .

 

[ editar ] Consejera real [ edit ] real Adviser Pese a que no quiso ser reina, Berenguela estuvo siempre al lado de su hijo, como consejera, interviniendo en la política del reino, aunque de forma indirecta. While refusing to be queen, Berengaria was always beside her son, as an adviser, speaking on the politics of the kingdom, although indirectly.

 

Así concertó el matrimonio de su hijo con la princesa Beatriz de Suabia , hija del duque Felipe de Suabia , y nieta de dos emperadores: Federico Barbarroja e Isaac II Ángelo . So arranged the marriage of his son to Princess Beatrice of Swabia , daughter of Duke Philip of Swabia , and granddaughter of two emperors Frederick Barbarossa and Isaac II Angelos . Este matrimonio con una familia tan importante elevaba la alcurnia de los reyes de Castilla y abría la puerta para que Fernando participase en los asuntos europeos de forma activa. This marriage with a family so important to raise the lineage of the kings of Castilla and opened the door for Fernando participate in European affairs actively. El matrimonio se celebró el 30 de noviembre de 1219 en la catedral de Burgos . The marriage took place on November 30 of 1219 in the cathedral of Burgos .

 

Otra ocasión en la que destacó la mediación de Berenguela se produjo en 1218 cuando la intrigante familia nobiliaria de los Lara con el antiguo regente, Alvaro Núñez de Lara, a la cabeza conspiró para que el padre de Fernando III y rey de León, Alfonso IX, penetrara en Castilla para hacerse con el trono de su hijo. Another occasion in which he emphasized the mediation of Berengaria took place in 1218 when the scheming aristocratic family of Lara with the former ruler, Alvar Nunez de Lara, head conspired to Fernando III's father and King of León, Alfonso IX , gets into Castile to take the throne of his son. Sin embargo, el fallecimiento del conde de Lara facilitó la intervención de Berenguela, que logró que padre e hijo firmaran el 26 de agosto de 1218 el pacto de Toro que pondría fin a los enfrentamientos castellano-leoneses. However, the death of the Count of Lara intervention facilitated the Berengaria, which succeeded the father and son signed the 26 August of 1218 the Toro pact that would end the fighting Castilian-Leonese.

 

En 1222 , Berenguela interviene nuevamente a favor de su hijo, al conseguir la firma del Convenio de Zafra que pone fin al enfrentamiento con los Lara al concertarse el matrimonio entre Mafalda, hija y heredera del señor de Molina, Gonzalo Pérez de Lara , y su hijo y hermano de Fernando, Alfonso . In 1222 , Berengaria intervene again on behalf of his son, to get the signature of the Convention Zafra ending confrontation with Lara when negotiating the marriage of Mafalda, daughter and heiress of Mr. de Molina, Gonzalo Pérez de Lara , and son and brother of Fernando, Alfonso .

 

En 1224 logra el matrimonio de su hija Berenguela con Juan de Brienne en una maniobra que acercaba a Fernando III al trono leonés, ya que Juan de Brienne era el candidato que Alfonso IX había pensado para que contrajera matrimonio con una de sus hijas. In 1224 achieved the marriage of his daughter Berengaria with John of Brienne in a move closer to Fernando III to the throne of Leon, and John of Brienne was the candidate Alfonso IX had planned to marry one of his daughters. Al adelantarse Berenguela, evitaba que las hijas de su anterior esposo tuvieran un marido que pudiera reclamar el trono leonés. By anticipating Berengaria, prevented the daughters of her former husband had a husband who could claim the throne of Leon.

 

Pero quizás la intervención más decisiva de Berenguela a favor de su hijo Fernando se produce en 1230 cuando muere Alfonso IX y designa como herederas al trono a sus hijas Sancha y Dulce , frutos de su primer matrimonio con Teresa de Portugal , en detrimento de los derechos de Fernando III. But perhaps the most decisive intervention Berengaria for his son Fernando was produced in 1230 at the death of Alfonso IX and designated heir to the throne to his daughter Sancha and Dulce , the fruits of his first marriage to Teresa of Portugal , to the detriment of the rights Ferdinand III. Berenguela se reúne en Benavente con la madre de las infantas y consigue la firma del Tratado de las Tercerías , por el que éstas renuncian al trono en favor de su hermanastro a cambio de una sustanciosa cantidad de dinero y otras ventajas. Berengaria meets in Benavente 's mother gets the princesses and the signing of the Treaty of Third party , which they renounce the throne for his brother in exchange for a substantial amount of money and other benefits. De ese modo se unieron para siempre León y Castilla en la persona de Fernando III el Santo ( 1230 ). In this way forever joined Leon and Castile in the person of Fernando III the Saint ( 1230 ).

 

Intervino también en el segundo matrimonio de Fernando III tras la muerte de Beatriz de Suabia, aunque habían tenido suficiente descendencia, pero "con el fin de que la virtud del rey no se menoscabase con relaciones ilícitas". Also spoke at the second marriage of Ferdinand III after the death of Beatrice of Swabia, although they had had enough offspring, but "in order that the king is under impairment in illicit relations." En esta ocasión, la elegida fue una noble francesa, Juana de Danmartín , candidata de la tía del rey y hermana de Berenguela, Blanca de Castilla , reina de Francia por su matrimonio con Luis VIII de Francia . On this occasion, the choice was a French noble, Joan of Danmartín , nominated by the king's aunt and sister of Berengaria, Blanche of Castile , Queen of France by her marriage to Louis VIII of France .

 

Berenguela ejerció como una auténtica reina mientras su hijo Fernando se encontraba en el sur, en sus largas campañas de Reconquista de al-Ándalus . Berengaria served as a real queen while his son Fernando was in the south, in its long campaign of reconquest of al-Andalus . Gobernó Castilla y León con la habilidad que siempre la caracterizó, asegurándole el tener las espaldas bien cubiertas. Ruled Castile and Leon with the ability to always characterized it, making sure we have their backs well covered.

 

Se entrevista por última vez con su hijo en Pozuelo ( Ciudad Real ) en 1245 , tras lo cual vuelve a Castilla, muriendo al año siguiente. Last interview with his son in Pozuelo ( Ciudad Real ) in 1245 , after which it returns to Castile, and died the following year.

 

Se la retrata como una mujer virtuosa por los cronistas de la época. Is portrayed as a virtuous woman by the chroniclers of the time. Fue protectora de monasterios y supervisó personalmente las obras de las catedrales de Burgos y Toledo . Was protective of monasteries and personally supervised the construction of the cathedrals of Burgos and Toledo . Del mismo modo, también se preocupó de la literatura, encargando al cronista Lucas de Tuy una crónica sobre los reyes de Castilla y León, siendo asimismo mencionada en las obras de Ximénez de Rada . Similarly, also worried about the literature, ordering the chronicler Lucas de Tuy a chronicle of the kings of Castile and Leon, also being mentioned in the writings of Ximénez de Rada .

Sources

1	Fray Valentin de la Cruz, "Berengaria the Great: Henry the Chico (1179-1246)".

2	"Berengaria of Castile, 1214-1246, In the Mirror of his time" (ISBN 84-376-2259-X).