Fernando de la Cerda (1255–1275) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ferdinand de la Cerda |
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| Tomb of Ferdinand de la Cerda | |
| Spouse(s) | Blanche of France |
| Issue | |
| Alfonso de la Cerda Fernando de la Cerda |
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| Noble family | House of la Cerda |
| Father | Alfonso X of Castile |
| Mother | Violant of Aragon |
| Born | 23 October 1255 Valladolid, Castile |
| Died | 25 June 1275 (aged 19) Ciudad Real, Castile |
Ferdinand de la Cerda (born October 23, 1255 – died June 25, 1275) was a very important person in the Kingdom of Castile. He was the oldest son of King Alfonso X of Castile and Queen Violant of Aragon. This made him the heir apparent, meaning he was next in line to become king.
His nickname, de la Cerda, means "of the bristle" in Spanish. He got this name because he was born with a full head of hair!
Family Life and Children
In November 1268, Ferdinand married Blanche. She was the daughter of King Louis IX of France. They had two sons together:
- Alfonso de la Cerda (1270-1333): He was born in 1270. Later research shows that Alfonso de la Cerda married Matilde of Brienne. They had four sons and three daughters.
- Fernando de la Cerda (1275-1322): He was born in 1275. He married Juana Núñez de Lara, who was also known as "la Palomilla." They had one son and three daughters. One of their daughters, Blanca Núñez de Lara, became the mother-in-law of King Henry II of Castile.
Role as Regent and Early Death
In November 1274, Ferdinand became the regent of Castile. This meant he was in charge of the kingdom while his father, King Alfonso X, was away in Germany.
In May 1275, a group called the Marinids from Morocco landed in Spain. They attacked Castile after being asked by Muhammad II of Granada. Ferdinand quickly gathered soldiers and moved south from Burgos to protect the kingdom.
Sadly, Ferdinand died unexpectedly in Villa Real on June 25, 1275. He was only 19 years old. His death left Castile vulnerable to the invasion.
Succession Challenges
After Ferdinand's death, his sons did not inherit the throne. Instead, their uncle Sancho became king. Sancho had successfully pushed back the Moorish invasion. This led to a period of disagreement over who should be the rightful ruler of Castile.
See also
In Spanish: Fernando de la Cerda para niños
