Infantes of Aragon facts for kids
The Infantes of Aragon (Spanish: Los Infantes de Aragón) was a name given to a group of important princes and princesses in Spain during the 1400s. They were part of the House of Trastámara, a powerful royal family. These "Infantes" were the children of King Ferdinand I of Aragon and his wife Eleanor of Alburquerque. They had a big impact on the politics of Spain and Portugal during their lives.
Here are the children of King Ferdinand I:
- Infante Alfonso (1396–1458) – He later became Alfonso V of Aragon. He was also the King of Sicily and Naples.
- Infanta Maria (1396–1445) – Maria of Aragon became the first wife of John II of Castile, the King of Castile.
- Infante Juan (1398–1479) – He became King of Navarre and later King John II of Aragon.
- Infante Enrique (1400–1445) – Henry of Aragon was a powerful duke and count. He was also the Grand Master of the Order of Santiago.
- Infanta Leonor (1402–1445) – Eleanor of Aragon (Queen of Portugal) married Edward I of Portugal and became Queen of Portugal.
- Infante Pedro (1406–1438) – Peter of Aragon, Count of Alburquerque was a count and duke.
- Infante Sancho (1410–1416) – He was a young master of the Order of Alcántara but died when he was very young.
The Rise of the Infantes
In 1406, Henry III of Castile, the King of Castile, died. His son, John II of Castile, was still a baby. In his will, King Henry III chose his brother, Infante Ferdinand of Antequera, to rule as a regent for the young king. Ferdinand used this important position to help his own children get ahead.
Then, in 1410, Martin of Aragon, the King of Aragon, died without any children. This left the Crown of Aragon without an heir. After much discussion, a group of important people decided in 1412 that Ferdinand of Antequera would become King Ferdinand I of Aragon. He also became King of Valencia and Count of Barcelona.
Power in Castile
King Ferdinand I died in 1416. His oldest son, Alfonso V of Aragon, became the new King of Aragon. However, Ferdinand's younger sons, especially Infantes Juan and Enrique, were very ambitious. They were known as the 'Infantes of Aragon'. They had already gained a lot of land and power in Castile. They wanted to control the government during the rule of their cousin, King John II of Castile, who was easily influenced.
In 1420, Infante Enrique planned a sudden takeover in Tordesillas. He removed nobles who were against him and took control of the Castilian government. Later that year, the Infantes arranged for their sister, Maria of Aragon, to marry King John II of Castile. This marriage helped them become even more powerful. They also arranged for King John II's sister to marry their oldest brother, Alfonso V.
Struggles for Control
King John II of Castile soon turned to a powerful Castilian noble named Álvaro de Luna. Álvaro de Luna became the Constable of Castile. He helped the king plan a counter-takeover and forced Infante Enrique to leave Castile and go to Aragon. But by 1427, Álvaro de Luna had lost the king's favor. Infante Enrique then returned to Castile and got back much of his old power.
In 1425, Infante Juan married Blanche I of Navarre and became the King of Navarre. Their younger sister, Eleanor, married King Edward of Portugal in 1428. The Trastámara family now had influence in almost every kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula. They also had many lands within Castile itself.
The 'Infantes of Aragon' seemed to be in a very strong position. But King John II of Castile once again asked Constable Álvaro de Luna to help remove them from power. The Infantes had the support of the most important Castilian nobles, as well as Aragon and Navarre. However, the Constable brought together a group of smaller nobles and townspeople against them. The long fights between Álvaro de Luna and the Infantes of Aragon, with their ups and downs, defined much of King John II's rule.
The Infantes were finally defeated at the First Battle of Olmedo in 1445. Infante Enrique died from his injuries in this battle. Álvaro de Luna was very powerful for a short time after this. But in 1454, King John II's second wife, Isabella of Portugal, made sure he was removed from his position.
The oldest Trastámara brother, Alfonso V of Aragon, died in 1458. His younger brother, Infante Juan of Navarre, then became King John II of Aragon.
King John II of Aragon died in 1479. His son, Ferdinand II of Aragon, married Isabella I of Castile, who was King John II of Castile's daughter. This marriage led to the rule of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain.
Sources
- McKaye, A. "Infantes of Aragon", in E.M. Gerli,editor, 2003, Medieval Iberia: an encyclopedia, London: Routledge
See also
In Spanish: Infantes de Aragón para niños
