John I of Castile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John I |
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A picture of John as a young prince by Jaime Serra (around 1375)
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| King of Castile and León | |
| Reign | 29 May 1379 – 9 October 1390 |
| Coronation | 25 July 1379 |
| Predecessor | Henry II |
| Successor | Henry III |
| Born | 24 August 1358 Épila |
| Died | 9 October 1390 (aged 32) Alcalá de Henares |
| Burial | Cathedral of Toledo |
| Spouse | Eleanor of Aragon Beatrice of Portugal |
| Issue | Henry III of Castile Ferdinand I of Aragon |
| House | Trastámara |
| Father | Henry II of Castile |
| Mother | Juana Manuel |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
John I (Spanish: Juan I) was the King of Castile and León from 1379 to 1390. He was born on August 24, 1358, and passed away on October 9, 1390. John was the son of King Henry II and his wife Juana Manuel of Castile.
Contents
Becoming King and Family Life
John I became king in 1379. His first marriage was to Eleanor of Aragon on June 18, 1375. They had three children:
- Henry (born October 4, 1379), who later became King of Castile after his father.
- Ferdinand (born November 27, 1380), who became King of Aragon in 1412.
- Eleanor (born August 13, 1382), who died when she was very young.
King John I was known for being more accepting of Jews than his father. He even made special rules to help some Jewish people, like Abraham David Taroç.
He also helped Leo V, the last Latin king of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Leo V had been captured by the Mamluks. John I paid to free him and gave him control over the cities of Madrid, Villa Real, and Andújar in 1383.
Challenges and Conflicts
John I faced several challenges during his rule, especially with Portugal.
Marriage to Beatrice of Portugal
After his first wife died, John I married Beatrice of Portugal on May 14, 1383. Beatrice was the daughter of King Ferdinand I of Portugal. This marriage was very important because Beatrice was the only child of King Ferdinand. This meant she was the heir to the Portuguese throne.
When King Ferdinand I of Portugal died on October 22, 1383, John I tried to claim the crown of Portugal for his wife. This led to a big problem known as the 1383–1385 Crisis. It was a time of civil unrest and fighting in Portugal.
The Portuguese Crisis (1383–1385)
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John I of Castile believed he should be King of Portugal because of his marriage to Beatrice. However, many Portuguese people did not want to be ruled by a Castilian king. They supported John of Aviz, who was another claimant to the throne.
In December 1383, King John I of Castile invaded Portugal to claim the throne. However, his army was completely defeated at the battle of Aljubarrota on August 14, 1385. This battle was a major turning point. After this defeat, John of Aviz became the undisputed King of Portugal. Even though John I of Castile and Beatrice no longer had a strong claim, they continued to call themselves king and queen of Portugal during John I's lifetime.
Dealing with John of Gaunt
John I also had to deal with John of Gaunt, an English prince. John of Gaunt claimed the crown of Castile for himself. He said he had the right to be king because his wife, Constance, was the eldest daughter of a previous Castilian king, Peter of Castile.
To solve this problem, King John I of Castile made a deal in 1388. His son, Henry, married Catherine. Catherine was the daughter of Constance and John of Gaunt. This marriage helped end the conflict and brought peace between Castile and England.
Death and Burial
King John I died on October 9, 1390, in Alcalá. He fell from his horse while riding in a fantasia. This was a traditional show of horsemanship where riders, called farfanes, rode in the Arab style.
His death was kept a secret for a few days. Since his son Henry III was still young, a group of people was chosen to rule the kingdom until Henry was old enough.
After his death, John I's body was taken to the city of Toledo. He was buried in the Chapel of the New Monarchs (La Capilla de los Reyes Nuevos) in the Cathedral of Toledo in Spain.
See also
In Spanish: Juan I de Castilla para niños
