Henry II of Castile

Henry of Trastamara (January 13,1334 Sevilla - May 29,1379 Santo Domingo de la Calzada) (Enrique de Trastámara), was the illegitimate son of Alfonso XI of Castile and Eleanor of Guzman, and half brother to Pedro I the Cruel (or the Lawful, depending on who wrote the history). He became Henry II of Castile (Enrique II de Castilla) in 1366 when, as head of a band of mercenaries, and with the aid of Bertrand du Guesclin, he drove Peter from his throne after the battle of Montiel. He was, however, defeated the next year at the Battle of Najera, and Peter was restored. Henry murdered Peter in 1369 and went to war against Portugal and England in the Hundred Years' War. For most of his reign he had to fight off the attempts of John of Gaunt, a son of Edward III of England, to claim the Castilian throne in right of his second wife, Peter's daughter.

Related Topics:
January 13 - 1334 - Sevilla - May 29 - 1379 - Santo Domingo de la Calzada - Alfonso XI of Castile - Eleanor of Guzman - Pedro I - 1366 - Bertrand du Guesclin - Battle of Najera - 1369 - Portugal - England - Hundred Years' War - John of Gaunt - Edward III of England

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Henry married Juana Manuel, daughter of Juan Manuel of Castile, head of a younger branch of the royal house of Castile. Their son was John I of Castile.

Related Topics:
Juan Manuel of Castile - John I of Castile

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Henry was the first nobleman to use Anti-Semitism as a political tool in Spain. This led to an end to the convivencia, and a period of riots and pogroms, and can be seen as sowing the seeds of the persecution of the Jews by the Spanish Inquisition, beginning a hundred years later.

Related Topics:
Anti-Semitism - Spain - Riot - Pogrom - Jew - Spanish Inquisition

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~