Henry I of Castile

Reign: 1214 – 1217
Life: 1204–1217

Henry was the only surviving son of Alfonso VIII of Castile and Eleanor of England. Because Henry was only ten at the time and his mother died within weeks, his older sister Berengaria took up rule as regent in his name. Discontented nobility forced her to give up rule and custody of Henry to Álvaro in early 1215. In an attempt to solidify his rule by procuring alliances with other Iberian rulers, Álvaro arranged for Henry to marry Mafalda of Portugal, but Berengaria intervened to have the marriage annulled; Álvaro then attempted to betroth Henry to Sancha of León in 1216, but the Leónese rejected the offer. When the hostilities between Berengaria and Álvaro erupted into an open war in April 1217, Álvaro took Henry with him on military campaigns; the young king's presence forced Berengaria and her supporters to yield.

During Henry I of Castile's reign, Afonso II of Portugal ruled Portugal, Minamoto no Sanetomo ruled Japan (Shogunate), and John, King of England ruled England.

Further reading: A History of Medieval Spain by Joseph F. O'Callaghan

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Henry I of Castile

The World During Their Reign

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Further Reading

A History of Medieval Spain