Eleanor of England, Queen of Castile facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eleanor of England
Queen consort of Castile and Toledo
Tenure	September 1170 – 5 October 1214
Born	c. 1161 Domfront Castle, Normandy
Died	31 October 1214 (aged 53) Burgos, Castile
Burial	Abbey of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas, Burgos
Spouse	Alfonso VIII, King of Castile ​ ​ (m. 1170; died 1214)​
Issue more...	Berengaria I, Queen of Castile Urraca, Queen of Portugal Blanche, Queen of France Eleanor, Queen of Aragon Henry I, King of Castile
House	Plantagenet / Angevin
Father	Henry II, King of England
Mother	Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine

Eleanor of England (Spanish: Leonor; around 1161 – 31 October 1214) was a powerful queen. She was the wife of Alfonso VIII of Castile, making her the Queen of Castile and Toledo. Eleanor was the sixth child and second daughter of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. After her husband died, she briefly served as the ruler (Regent) of Castile for her young son, Henry I, until her own death in 1214.

Early Life and Family

Eleanor was born in Domfront Castle in Normandy around 1161. Her parents were King Henry II of England and Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine. She had many famous siblings! Her full siblings included King Richard I (also known as Richard the Lionheart) and King John. She also had half-sisters, Marie and Alix, from her mother's first marriage.

Becoming Queen of Castile

The betrothal of Alfonso VIII of Castille and Eleanor of England.

In 1170, when Eleanor was only nine years old, she married King Alfonso VIII of Castile in Burgos. This marriage was arranged by her parents for important political reasons. It helped secure the border of Aquitaine (a region her mother ruled) near the Pyrenees mountains. For Alfonso, it meant gaining an ally in his conflicts with the King of Navarre.

Eleanor became a very influential queen. Her marriage agreement gave her direct control over many lands, towns, and castles in Castile. This made her almost as powerful as her husband, King Alfonso. He even stated in his will that she should rule alongside their son if he died.

Eleanor was also a big supporter of religious places. In 1179, she helped maintain a special shrine for Thomas Becket in the cathedral of Toledo. She also founded and supported the Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas. This abbey became a significant place for her family, serving as a refuge and a burial site for many generations.

Eleanor as Regent

When King Alfonso VIII died, Eleanor was heartbroken. She was so sad that her eldest daughter, Berengaria, had to take her place at the funeral. According to her husband's will, Eleanor became the regent of Castile. This meant she would rule the kingdom because her son, Henry I, was still too young.

However, Eleanor's health was not good. She left most of the important decisions to her daughter, Berengaria. Eleanor died only twenty-six days after her husband, on 31 October 1214. She was buried next to him at the Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas.

Children of Eleanor and Alfonso VIII

Eleanor and Alfonso VIII had many children. Here are some of their most well-known children:

Later Mentions

After her death, Eleanor was remembered for her beauty and royal presence by poets. Her great-grandson, King Alfonso X, described her as "noble and much loved."

See also

In Spanish: Leonor Plantagenet para niños

|