List of Castilian monarchs facts for kids
This article is about the kings and queens who ruled the Kingdom and Crown of Castile. These powerful rulers shaped the history of a large part of what is now Spain. You'll learn about the different families, or "dynasties," that held the throne and some of the important things that happened during their reigns.
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Meet the Rulers of Castile
This section introduces the kings and queens who led Castile through many centuries. They were part of different royal families, each leaving their own mark on history.
The Jiménez Family (Dynasty)
The Jiménez family was one of the first to rule Castile. They helped shape the early kingdom.
Monarch | Image | Nickname | Started Ruling | Ended Ruling | Important Facts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sancho II | ![]() |
the Strong | 27 December 1065 | 6 October 1072 | He also ruled as King of León for a short time. |
Alfonso VI | ![]() |
the Brave | 6 October 1072 | 30 June 1109 | He also ruled as King of León. |
Urraca | ![]() |
the Reckless | 30 June 1109 | 8 March 1126 | She was also Queen of León. |
The House of Ivrea
The rulers from the House of Ivrea were descendants of Queen Urraca's first husband, Raymond of Burgundy. This family saw Castile grow and become even stronger.

Monarch | Image | Nickname | Started Ruling | Ended Ruling | Important Facts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alfonso VII | ![]() |
The Emperor | 10 March 1126 | 21 August 1157 | He also ruled as King of León. |
Sancho III | ![]() |
The Desired | 21 August 1157 | 31 August 1158 | |
Alfonso VIII | ![]() |
The Noble | 31 August 1158 | 6 October 1214 | He won a very important battle, the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, in 1212. |
Henry I | ![]() |
6 October 1214 | 6 June 1217 | ||
Berengaria | ![]() |
The Great | 6 June 1217 | 30 August 1217 | She gave up her throne for her son, Ferdinand III. |
Ferdinand III | ![]() |
The Saint | 30 August 1217 | 30 May 1252 | He also became King of León in 1230. After him, all kings ruled both Castile and León. |
Alfonso X | ![]() |
The Wise | 30 May 1252 | 4 April 1284 | He was chosen as King of the Romans in 1257, a title he kept until 1275. |
Sancho IV | ![]() |
The Brave | 4 April 1284 | 25 April 1295 | |
Ferdinand IV | ![]() |
The Summoned | 25 April 1295 | 7 September 1312 | |
Alfonso XI | ![]() |
The Just | 7 September 1312 | 26 March 1350 | He died from the Black Death during a siege. |
Peter | ![]() |
The Cruel | 26 March 1350 | 23 March 1369 | He was killed by his half-brother, Henry II. |
The House of Trastámara
After Peter's death, there was a fight over who should be the next king. Peter's half-brother, Henry of Trastámara, took the throne by force. He started the new ruling family, the House of Trastámara. Henry II was the son of Alfonso XI.
Monarch | Image | Nickname | Started Ruling | Ended Ruling | Important Facts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Henry II | ![]() |
The Bastard | 23 March 1369 | 29 May 1379 | He also claimed the throne from 1366. |
John I | 29 May 1379 | 9 October 1390 | |||
Henry III | ![]() |
The Infirm | 9 October 1390 | 25 December 1406 | |
John II | ![]() |
25 December 1406 | 21 July 1454 | ||
Henry IV | ![]() |
The Impotent | 21 July 1454 | 11 December 1474 | |
Isabella I | ![]() |
The Catholic | 11 December 1474 | 26 November 1504 | She ruled with her husband, Ferdinand, who became King of Castile because he was her husband. |
Ferdinand V | ![]() |
The Catholic | 15 January 1475 | 26 November 1504 | He also became King of Aragon in 1479. This helped create a united country called Spain. |
Joanna | ![]() |
The Mad | 26 November 1504 | 12 April 1555 | She ruled in name with her husband, Philip I, and later with her father and son. She was often kept in confinement. |
The House of Habsburg
The House of Habsburg took over the throne of Castile. This family was very powerful across Europe.
Monarch | Image | Nickname | Started Ruling | Ended Ruling | Important Facts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Philip I | ![]() |
The Handsome | 26 November 1504 | 25 September 1506 | He was king because he was married to Queen Joanna I. |
Charles I | ![]() |
The Emperor | 13 March 1516 | 16 January 1556 | He ruled with his mother, Joanna I, who was in confinement. He gave up his throne in 1556. |
Philip II | ![]() |
The Prudent | 16 January 1556 | 13 September 1598 | He was the son of Charles I. |
Philip III | ![]() |
The Pious | 13 September 1598 | 31 March 1621 | He was the son of Philip II. |
Philip IV | ![]() |
The Great | 31 March 1621 | 17 September 1665 | He was the son of Philip III. |
Charles II | ![]() |
The Bewitched | 17 September 1665 | 1 November 1700 | He was the son of Philip IV. |
The House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon took over after the War of Spanish Succession. With their rule, the Crown of Castile became fully part of the Spanish Crown.
Monarch | Image | Nickname | Started Ruling | Ended Ruling | Important Facts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Philip V | ![]() |
1 November 1700 | 1715 (Nueva Planta decrees dissolve the Crown of Castile) | He was the Duke of Anjou and a relative of Charles II. |
The Crown of Castile had its own laws and identity within the Spanish Crown until the Bourbon family came to power. This happened after a big conflict called the War of Spanish Succession.
More to Explore
- List of Castilian consorts
- Kingdom of Castile
- List of Aragonese monarchs
- List of Leonese monarchs
- List of Navarrese monarchs
- List of Spanish monarchs