Alfonso X of Castile

Alfonso X, El Sabio, the Learned, the Astronomer, or the Wise (November 23, 1221 - April 4, 1284) was a king of Castile and León (1252 - 1284). He is perhaps the most interesting, though far from the most capable, of the Spanish kings of the Middle Ages. His nickname "El Sabio" usually means "the Wise", but in this case his wisdom has been said to have been of so-called sulphuric quality, thus a translation "The Learned" is better in order.

Family

In 1246, Alfonso X married Violante of Aragon, the daughter of King James I of Aragon and Yolande of Hungary. Because of her young age (Violante was only 10-years-old at the time of the marriage) she produced no children for several years and it was feared that she was barren. Alfonso almost had their marriage annulled, but they went on to have twelve children:

Related Topics:
1246 - James I of Aragon

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• Fernando, died in infancy, and buried at Las Huelgas in Burgos.
• Berengaria of Castile (October or November 1253-after 1284). She was betrothed to Louis, the son and heir of King Louis IX of France, but her fiance died prematurely in 1260. She entered the convent at Las Huelgas, where she was living in 1284.
• Beatriz of Castile (November or December 1254-1280). She married William V of Montferrat.
• Ferdinand de la Cerda (October 23, 1255-July 25, 1275). He married Blanche, the daughter of King Louis IX of France, by whom he had two children. Because he predeceased his father, his younger brother Sancho inherited the throne.
• Leonor of Castile (1257-1275)
• Sancho IV of Castile (May 13, 1258-1295)
• Constanza of Castile (1258-August 22, 1280), a nun at Las Huelgas.
• Pedro of Castile (June 1260-October 10, 1283)
• Juan of Castile (March or April, 1262-June 25, 1319).
• Isabella, died young.
• Violante of Castile (1265-1296). She married Diego Lopez de Haro
• Jaime of Castile (August 1266-August 9, 1284)

Alfonso X also had several illegitimate children. His illegitimate daughter, Beatriz, married King Alfonso III of Portugal. An illegitimate son, Martin, was Abbot of Valladolid.

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