Constance of Portugal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Constance of Portugal |
|
|---|---|
.png)
Constance of Portugal, in António de Hollanda's Genealogy of the Royal Houses of Spain and Portugal (1534).
|
|
| Queen consort of Castile and León | |
| Tenure | 23 January 1302 – 7 September 1312 |
| Born | 3 January 1290 Kingdom of Portugal |
| Died | 18 November 1313 (aged 23) Sahagún, Crown of Castile |
| Burial | Valladolid, Spain |
| Spouse | Ferdinand IV, King of Castile |
| Issue | Eleanor, Queen of Aragon Alfonso XI, King of Castile |
| House | Portuguese House of Burgundy |
| Father | Denis, King of Portugal |
| Mother | Elizabeth of Aragon |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Constance of Portugal (born January 3, 1290 – died November 18, 1313) was the Queen of Castile. She became queen by marrying Ferdinand IV.
Constance was the oldest child and only daughter of King Denis of Portugal and his wife Elizabeth of Aragon. Elizabeth later became known as Saint Elizabeth.
Contents
Life as Queen
Early Life and Marriage
When Constance was very young, she was promised to marry Ferdinand IV of Castile. This agreement was made in a treaty between their fathers in 1291. Constance was only 20 months old at the time.
Later, in 1297, this marriage plan was confirmed again. It was part of a peace agreement between Portugal and Castile.
On January 23, 1302, Constance finally married King Ferdinand IV of Castile in Valladolid. She was about 12 years old.
Children and Royal Duties
Four years after her marriage, in 1307, Constance gave birth to her first child. It was a daughter named Eleanor. Eleanor later became the Queen of Aragon.
In 1308, Queen Constance had another daughter, also named Constance. Sadly, this daughter died young in 1310.
In 1311, Constance gave birth to a son, Alfonso XI of Castile. He would later become the King of Castile. There were some disagreements about who should raise the young prince. Constance wanted her son to be cared for by Ferdinand IV's brother, Peter.
King Ferdinand IV's Death
On September 7, 1312, King Ferdinand IV died in Jaén. He was only 26 years old. Because of the hot weather, his body was taken to the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba for burial.
Queen Constance led the procession that carried her husband's body to Córdoba. She made sure he was buried in the main chapel of the Cathedral.
Constance's Role After the King's Death
Protecting the Young King
After King Ferdinand IV died, his son Alfonso XI was only one year old. This meant the kingdom needed someone to rule until he grew up. This period is called a "minority."
Many powerful people wanted to be in charge. Constance's mother-in-law, Queen María de Molina, was asked to be the regent (the person who rules for the young king).
There were many arguments and disagreements among the nobles about who should guide the young King Alfonso XI. Queen Constance worked to protect her son's right to the throne.
The Palencia Meetings of 1313
In 1313, important meetings were held in Palencia. Different groups of nobles and leaders gathered to decide who would be the young king's guardians.
Queen Constance first supported Peter, her husband's brother. But later, she changed her support to another powerful noble, John of Castile. These meetings were very tense, with different groups having their own armies nearby.
Eventually, two separate agreements were made. One group supported John of Castile as guardian, and the other supported Peter and Queen María de Molina.
Death and Burial
On November 18, 1313, Queen Constance of Portugal died in Sahagún. She was only 23 years old. Just one day before her death, she wrote her will. In it, she named her parents, the King and Queen of Portugal, as the people to carry out her wishes.
After her death, her body was buried in the Royal Monastery of San Benito in Sahagún. This monastery was also the burial place of King Alfonso VI of León and Castile and some of his wives.
Sadly, Constance's tomb was destroyed during a fire in 1810. This happened during a war. Her remains have since disappeared.
Today, there is a modern stone slab in the church of San Juan de Sahagún. It marks where Queen Constance's tomb used to be. The inscription on the stone says: "Here lies Queen Constance, wife of King Ferdinand IV. She died on 23 November 1313."
See also
In Spanish: Constanza de Portugal (1290-1313) para niños
