House of Enríquez facts for kids
The House of Enríquez was a very important noble family in Spain. They were known for their royal connections and power.
History of the Enríquez Family
The Enríquez family started in the Crown of Castile, which was a kingdom in what is now Spain. The first person in this family was Frederick of Castile. He was the son of King Alfonso XI of Castile and Eleanor de Guzmán. Frederick was also the twin brother of Henry II of Castile. The family name "Enríquez" means "son of Henry," which is how the family got its name from Henry II. This family was a younger branch of the House of Ivrea, another important royal family.
The Enríquez family became one of the most powerful groups in Castile. For almost 200 years, they held the important title of Admirals of Castile, which meant they were in charge of the navy. They also earned the title of Duke of Medina de Rioseco.
During the Middle Ages, they were part of the top noble families in Castile. In 1520, Emperor Charles V recognized them as one of the first "Grandees of Spain." This was a very special title for the most important nobles. Members of the family also held titles like "Lord of Haro" and "Masters of the Order of Santiago," which was a famous knightly order.
The family also controlled many important lands and towns. These included Mansilla, Medina de Rioseco, Melgar, Palenzuela, Peñafiel, Rueda, Torrelobatón, and Tarifa.
A famous member of the family was Juana Enríquez. She was the great-granddaughter of the family's founder. Juana married John II of Aragon and became the mother of Ferdinand II of Aragon. Ferdinand II was one of the famous Catholic Monarchs who united Spain.
Important Members
Here are some of the notable people from the Enríquez family:
- Fadrique Alfonso de Castilla (1333–1358) – The founder of the family.
- Alonso Enríquez y Angulo de Córdoba (1354–1429) – A key leader of the family.
- Fadrique Enríquez de Mendoza (around 1388–1473) – An important figure in the family's history.
- Alfonso Enríquez (around 1435–1485)
- Juana Enríquez de Mendoza (1425–1468) – She married King Juan II de Aragón and was the mother of King Ferdinand II.
- Fadrique Enriquez de Cabrera (1485–1538)
- Fernando Enríquez (1538–1542)
- Luis Enríquez (1542–1567)
- Luis II Enríquez (1567–1596)
- Luis III Enríquez de Cabrera (1596–1600)
- Juan Alfonso Enríquez de Cabrera (1600–1647)
- Juan Gaspar Enríquez de Cabrera (1647–1691)
- Juan Tomás Enríquez de Cabrera (1691–1702)
- Pascual Enríquez de Cabrera (died 1739)
- María de la Almudena Enríquez de Cabrera (died 1779)
See also
In Spanish: Casa de Enríquez para niños
