Beatrice of Castile (1293–1359) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beatrice of Castile |
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| Queen consort of Portugal | |
| Tenure | 7 January 1325 – 28 May 1357 |
| Born | 8 March 1293 Toro, Crown of Castile |
| Died | 25 October 1359 (aged 66) Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal |
| Burial | Lisbon Cathedral |
| Spouse | Afonso IV, King of Portugal |
| Issue Among others… |
Maria, Queen of Castile Peter I of Portugal Eleanor, Queen of Aragon |
| House | Castilian House of Ivrea |
| Father | Sancho IV, King of Castile |
| Mother | María de Molina |
Beatrice of Castile (born March 8, 1293 – died October 25, 1359) was a princess from Castile. She was the daughter of King Sancho IV of Castile and María de Molina. Beatrice became the Queen of Portugal when her husband, Afonso IV, became king in 1325. She remained queen until his death in 1357.
Contents
A Royal Life: Queen Beatrice of Castile
Early Life and Family Connections
Beatrice was born in Toro, Castile. Her parents were King Sancho IV and Queen María de Molina. She had six brothers and sisters. One of her brothers was King Ferdinand IV of Castile. Her sister, Isabella, became Queen of Aragon.
When Beatrice was only four years old, an important agreement was signed. This was the Treaty of Alcañices in 1297. It ended fighting between Castile and Portugal. It also set the borders between the two kingdoms. To make sure the peace lasted, the treaty arranged two royal marriages. Beatrice would marry Afonso, the prince of Portugal. And her brother, Ferdinand, would marry Afonso's sister, Constance.
Beatrice moved to Portugal in the same year, 1297. She grew up at the court of King Denis of Portugal. She lived with her future husband, Prince Afonso, who was about six years old. King Denis loved books, poetry, and music. Beatrice grew up in this artistic environment.
Royal Gifts and Properties
After the peace treaty, King Denis gave Beatrice special wedding gifts. These were called arras. They included lands like Évora, Vila Viçosa, and Vila Nova de Gaia. These lands brought in a lot of money each year.
As time went on, Beatrice received even more properties. In 1321, her husband gave her Viana do Alentejo. After he became king, he gave her lands in Santarém in 1325. Later, her son, King Peter, gave her more estates. These included Óbidos and Torres Novas.
Her Marriage to Afonso IV
Beatrice and Afonso were married in Lisbon on September 12, 1309. Before they could marry, they needed special permission from the Pope. This was because they were related through their great-grandfather, King Alfonso X of Castile. Pope Boniface VIII gave his permission in 1301. But since they were both young, the wedding waited until 1309. Afonso was 18 and Beatrice was 16.
Their marriage was happy and they had many children. It was unusual for kings at that time, but Afonso did not have any children outside of his marriage. This was a sign of how strong their bond was. They had seven children, but four of them sadly died when they were very young.
A Queen Who Made Peace
Beatrice was an important queen. She was the first foreign queen who spoke Portuguese perfectly and understood its customs. This helped her to be a great peacemaker. She quietly supported her husband when he had problems with his father and his half-brother, Afonso Sanches.
When her husband, King Afonso IV, and her son-in-law, King Alfonso XI of Castile, went to war, Beatrice tried to help. She traveled to Badajoz to meet the Castilian king. She wanted to find a way to make peace between the two kingdoms. Even though her efforts didn't work that time, she kept trying.
Later, Beatrice and the Archbishop of Braga helped solve a big problem. There was a serious disagreement between her husband, King Afonso IV, and their son, Prince Peter. This problem almost led to a civil war in Portugal. But in 1355, thanks to Beatrice's help, father and son finally made peace.
Beatrice also cared about people in need. In 1329, she started a hospital in Lisbon. With her husband, she later founded another hospital to help poor people. In her will, she left money and properties to churches and religious groups, especially the Dominican and Franciscan orders. She asked to be buried in a simple robe of the Franciscan order.
Her Children
Beatrice and Afonso IV had the following children:
- Maria (1313–1357): She married Alfonso XI of Castile and was the mother of King Peter I of Castile. Her marriage was difficult.
- Afonso (1315–1317): He was the first heir to the throne but died as a baby.
- Denis (1317): He was also an heir but died a few months after his birth.
- Peter (1320–1367): He was the first son to survive and later became King Peter I of Portugal. When his wife, Constance, died, Queen Beatrice helped raise their two children, Maria and Ferdinand. Ferdinand later became King Ferdinand I of Portugal.
- Isabel (1324–1326): She died when she was very young.
- John (1326–1327): He also died as a baby.
- Eleanor (1328–1348): She married King Peter IV of Aragon in 1347. She died a year later from the Black Death.
Death and Burial
Queen Beatrice died in Lisbon when she was 66 years old. She was buried at Lisbon Cathedral next to her husband, as she had wished. Their tombs were destroyed during the big 1755 Lisbon earthquake. New tombs were built in the 18th century to replace them.
See also
In Spanish: Beatriz de Castilla (1293-1359) para niños
