Individual Details
Alonso Enriquez, Admiral of Castilla
(1354 - 1429)
Alonso was born in Guadalcanal, Seville, in 1354, the son of Fadrique Alonso of Castile, the natural son of Alfonso XI 'el Justo', king of Castile and León. Alonso's mother, a mistress of his father, was said to have belonged to a Jewish family that had converted to Christianity in the 13th century. She is referred to in some sources as 'La Paloma', and as the grand-daughter of a Shlomo Ha-Zaken ben David. Alonso's half-brother was Pedro de Castilla, conde de Trastamara, Lemos y Sarria, the constable of Castile.
In 1387 Alonso made an offer of marriage to Juana Perez de Mendoza, the wealthy widow of Diego Gómez Manrique de Lara, seńor de Amusco, and the daughter of Pedro González de Mendoza, seńor de Hita y Buitrago, and his second wife Dońa Elvira Lopéz de Ayala. Juana was about thirty, and the object of many marriage proposals. At first rejected on the grounds that his mother was a 'marrana' (belonged to a Jewish family that had converted to Christianity), he nevertheless succeeded in marrying Juana, in controversial circumstances according to some sources. They had twelve children of whom two sons and five daughters would have progeny.
In 1389 Alonso received from his cousin Juan I, king of Castile and León, the town of Aguilar de Campos, which was the first step in building a strong personal patrimony. About 1402 he was appointed an 'adelantado mayor' (governor and justice) of the king of León, and governor of Medina de Rioseca, the capital Valladolid. In 1405 he received from Juan I's son Enrique III 'the Infirm', king of Castile and León, the title of Admiral of Castile. The position, as well as responsibility for military actions at sea, carried civil and criminal jurisdiction over all the ports of the kingdom of Granada. Three years after his appointment he captured Antequera in the province of Malaga in Andalusia.
In 1421 Enrique's son Juan II, king of Castile and León, recognised Alonso's services by granting him the lordship of Medina de Rioseco, where he retired and created an entailed estate for his children. His title was made hereditary and he joined the highest nobility of the kingdom and became a member of the Royal Council. He died in Guadalupe, Cáceres, in 1429.
Source: Leo van de Pas
In 1387 Alonso made an offer of marriage to Juana Perez de Mendoza, the wealthy widow of Diego Gómez Manrique de Lara, seńor de Amusco, and the daughter of Pedro González de Mendoza, seńor de Hita y Buitrago, and his second wife Dońa Elvira Lopéz de Ayala. Juana was about thirty, and the object of many marriage proposals. At first rejected on the grounds that his mother was a 'marrana' (belonged to a Jewish family that had converted to Christianity), he nevertheless succeeded in marrying Juana, in controversial circumstances according to some sources. They had twelve children of whom two sons and five daughters would have progeny.
In 1389 Alonso received from his cousin Juan I, king of Castile and León, the town of Aguilar de Campos, which was the first step in building a strong personal patrimony. About 1402 he was appointed an 'adelantado mayor' (governor and justice) of the king of León, and governor of Medina de Rioseca, the capital Valladolid. In 1405 he received from Juan I's son Enrique III 'the Infirm', king of Castile and León, the title of Admiral of Castile. The position, as well as responsibility for military actions at sea, carried civil and criminal jurisdiction over all the ports of the kingdom of Granada. Three years after his appointment he captured Antequera in the province of Malaga in Andalusia.
In 1421 Enrique's son Juan II, king of Castile and León, recognised Alonso's services by granting him the lordship of Medina de Rioseco, where he retired and created an entailed estate for his children. His title was made hereditary and he joined the highest nobility of the kingdom and became a member of the Royal Council. He died in Guadalupe, Cáceres, in 1429.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 1354 | Guadalcanal | |||
| Death | 1429 | Gudalupe | |||
| Marriage | Juana Perez de Mendoza |
Families
| Spouse | Juana Perez de Mendoza ( - 1431) |
| Child | Dona Leonor Enriquez de Mendoza ( - ) |
| Father | Fadrique Alfonso of Castilla (1334 - 1358) |
| Mother | Paloma ( - ) |