Individual Details
Alfonso IX King of León and Castilla
(1171 - 1230)
Alfonso was born 15 August 1171, only son of Fernando II, king of León, and Urraca of Portugal, daughter of Afonso I 'o Conquistador', king of Portugal and Mathilde de Savoie. Alfonso was also first cousin of Alfonso VIII of Castile and numbered next to him as being a junior member of the family. He was said by Ibn Khaldun (the famous Arab historiographer and historian, 1332-1406) to have been called the 'Baboso' (Slobberer) because he was subject to fits of rage during which he foamed at the mouth. He was king of León from the death of his father Fernando II in 1188 until his own death.
Though Alfonso took part in the _Reconquista,_ the reconquest of Spain from the Moors, he is chiefly remembered by the difficulties into which his successive marriages led him with the pope. He was first married in 1191 to his cousin Teresa of Portugal, who bore him two daughters, and a son who died young.
The marriage was declared null by the pope, to whom Alfonso paid no attention until he was presumably tired of his wife. It cannot have been his conscience which constrained him to leave Teresa, for his next step was to marry Berenguela of Castile in 1197, who was his second cousin. For this act of contumacy the king and kingdom were placed under interdict.
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 by will.
Alfonso's eldest daughter Sancha was engaged to her cousin King Enrique I of Castile, but he died in 1217 before the marriage could be solemnised. Wanting to disinherit his son Fernando, Alfonso invited Jean de Brienne to marry his daughter Sancha and thereby inherit the Leonese throne. However, Queen Berenguela convinced Jean de Brienne to marry one of her daughters instead. Though she was the nominal heiress on her father's death in 1230, Sancha was easily set aside by Berenguela and Fernando. Sancha became a nun at Cozollos, where she died in 1270; she was later beatified. Her sister Dulce-Aldonza spent her life with their mother in Portugal.
Alfonso's had five children by Berenguela of Castile of whom Fernando, Alfonso and Berenguela would have progeny.
Alfonso died 24 September 1230 and was buried at Santiago de Compostela.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Though Alfonso took part in the _Reconquista,_ the reconquest of Spain from the Moors, he is chiefly remembered by the difficulties into which his successive marriages led him with the pope. He was first married in 1191 to his cousin Teresa of Portugal, who bore him two daughters, and a son who died young.
The marriage was declared null by the pope, to whom Alfonso paid no attention until he was presumably tired of his wife. It cannot have been his conscience which constrained him to leave Teresa, for his next step was to marry Berenguela of Castile in 1197, who was his second cousin. For this act of contumacy the king and kingdom were placed under interdict.
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 by will.
Alfonso's eldest daughter Sancha was engaged to her cousin King Enrique I of Castile, but he died in 1217 before the marriage could be solemnised. Wanting to disinherit his son Fernando, Alfonso invited Jean de Brienne to marry his daughter Sancha and thereby inherit the Leonese throne. However, Queen Berenguela convinced Jean de Brienne to marry one of her daughters instead. Though she was the nominal heiress on her father's death in 1230, Sancha was easily set aside by Berenguela and Fernando. Sancha became a nun at Cozollos, where she died in 1270; she was later beatified. Her sister Dulce-Aldonza spent her life with their mother in Portugal.
Alfonso's had five children by Berenguela of Castile of whom Fernando, Alfonso and Berenguela would have progeny.
Alfonso died 24 September 1230 and was buried at Santiago de Compostela.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 1171 | ||||
| Marriage | 1198 | Valladolid - Berenguela Infanta of Castilla | |||
| Annulment | 1204 | Berenguela Infanta of Castilla | |||
| Death | 1230 |
Families
| Spouse | Berenguela Infanta of Castilla (1180 - 1246) |
| Child | Saint Fernando III King of Castilla (1200 - 1252) |
| Father | Fernando II King of León (1137 - 1188) |
| Mother | Urraca Infanta of Portugal (1151 - 1188) |