Sancho III of Castile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sancho III |
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King Sancho III of Castile in an old book from the 1300s.
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| King of Castile and Toledo | |
| Reign | 21 August 1157 – 31 August 1158 |
| Predecessor | Alfonso VII |
| Successor | Alfonso VIII |
| Born | c. 1134 Toledo |
| Died | 31 August 1158 (aged 23–24) Toledo |
| Burial | Cathedral of Toledo |
| Consort | Blanche of Navarre |
| Issue | Alfonso VIII of Castile Infante Garcia |
| House | Castilian House of Ivrea |
| Father | Alfonso VII of León and Castile |
| Mother | Berengaria of Barcelona |
Sancho III (born around 1134 – died August 31, 1158) was known as the Desired (el Deseado). He was the King of Castile and Toledo for just one year, from 1157 to 1158. Sancho was the son of King Alfonso VII of León and Castile and Queen Berengaria of Barcelona. He became king after his father and was followed by his own son, Alfonso VIII of Castile. His special nickname, "the Desired," came from being his parents' first child. They had been married for eight years without children before he was born.
During his short time as king, an important group of knights called the Order of Calatrava was started. Also, a peace agreement known as the Treaty of Sahagún was made in May 1158.
Contents
Becoming King: Sancho's Early Life
Sancho was the oldest son of King Alfonso VII of León and Castile and Queen Berengaria of Barcelona. In 1152, his father gave him control over an area called "the Kingdom of Nájera." When his father, King Alfonso VII, died, he divided his lands between his two sons. Sancho received the kingdoms of Castile and Toledo. His brother, Ferdinand, inherited the Kingdom of León. The two brothers had just signed a peace treaty when Sancho suddenly passed away in the summer of 1158. He was buried in the city of Toledo.
Important Events During His Reign
The Knights of Calatrava
During Sancho's rule, a castle called Calatrava-la-Vieja was given to a religious leader named Abbot Raymond Serrat. The Abbot was from the Fitero Monastery. He suggested that the lay brothers (people who live in the monastery but are not monks) could become knights. These knights would protect the castle. This group of knights grew into the famous Order of Calatrava. Their order was officially approved by Pope Alexander III in 1164.
The Treaty of Sahagún
In May 1158, the Treaty of Sahagún was signed. This agreement set out the areas that the kingdoms of León and Castile could conquer from the Muslim lands of al-Andalus. There was also a plan to divide the Portuguese kingdom between Sancho and his brother. However, this plan never happened because King Sancho died unexpectedly.
Sancho's Family Life
In 1151, King Sancho married Blanche of Navarre. She was the daughter of García Ramírez of Navarre. Sancho and Blanche had two children:
- Alfonso VIII of Castile, who became king after Sancho.
- Infante García, who sadly died at birth in 1156. It seems that Queen Blanche also passed away around the same time.
See also
In Spanish: Sancho III de Castilla para niños
