Ferdinand of León (died 1214) facts for kids
Ferdinand was a prince from the Kingdom of León, born around 1192. He was the oldest son of King Alfonso IX of León and his first wife, Theresa. Ferdinand was expected to become king after his father.
Sadly, Ferdinand passed away in August 1214, when he was about 22 years old. He died before his father and did not have any children. A historian named Lucas of Tuy described Ferdinand as a "very handsome youth." His father, King Alfonso IX, was very sad about his death. Ferdinand was buried in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, next to his grandfather, Ferdinand II. After Ferdinand's death, his younger half-brother, also named Ferdinand, became the next in line to the throne.
Contents
Ferdinand's Early Life and Family
In 1196, Ferdinand's parents, King Alfonso IX and Queen Theresa, had their marriage ended. After this, Theresa and young Ferdinand went to live in Portugal with her father, Sancho I of Portugal.
When King Sancho I of Portugal died in March 1211, Theresa made an agreement with her former husband, King Alfonso IX. She returned to León. With Alfonso's help, Theresa wanted to make sure she received the lands and wealth her father had left her in his will. This agreement also caused King Alfonso to end his alliance with the Kingdom of Castile.
Becoming the Heir to León
From April 21, 1211, Ferdinand was officially the next in line to the throne of León. Even though his parents' marriage had been ended, which sometimes caused questions about a child's right to inherit, Ferdinand was recognized as the heir.
He often signed important official documents, called charters, alongside his father. These documents referred to him as "infante Fernando, the king's firstborn son." An "infante" is a title for a prince in Spain and Portugal.
Political Agreements and Peace
In November 1212, King Alfonso IX of León signed an important agreement called the Treaty of Coimbra. This treaty was made with Alfonso VIII of Castile, who was the father of King Alfonso IX's second wife, and Alfonso II of Portugal, who was the brother of King Alfonso IX's first wife, Theresa.
This treaty helped to weaken Castile's defenses along the border. It made Castile give four castles to León, which were then torn down. However, the treaty also likely helped King Alfonso VIII of Castile's grandson, who was the younger Ferdinand, in case there was a fight over who would become king later.
Before April 1212, Ferdinand had signed several charters with his father. The two kingdoms, León and Castile, made peace to get ready for a big battle against the Muslims, known as the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa. Ferdinand did not sign any more charters during this time of peace. However, on April 22, 1213, Ferdinand again signed a charter with his father.
Sources
- Bianchini, Janna. The Queen's Hand: Power and Authority in the Reign of Berenguela of Castile. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Fernando de León (m. 1214) para niños
