Treaty of Bayonne (1388) facts for kids

The Treaty of Bayonne was an important agreement signed in 1388. It helped end a long fight over who should be the king of Castile, a powerful kingdom in what is now Spain. The treaty was signed on October 26, 1388, in a city called Bayonne. The main people involved were King John I of Castile and John of Gaunt, who was a duke from England. John of Gaunt believed he should be the king of Castile because of his wife.

Who Fought for the Throne of Castile?

The fight for the throne of Castile began with two half-brothers. They were Henry of Trastamara and Peter I. Henry was the son of King Alfonso XI of Castile and his mistress, Eleanor de Guzmán. Peter was the son of King Alfonso XI and his wife, Maria of Portugal.

In 1356, this family disagreement turned into a civil war. The half-brothers fought for the throne until 1369. That year, Henry of Trastamara took the throne from Peter and became King Henry II.

King Henry II wanted to make sure his son, John I, would become king after him. But two other people also claimed the throne. One was Ferdinand I of Portugal, who was related to an earlier king, Sancho IV of Castile. The other was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster. John of Gaunt was married to Constance, who was a daughter of Peter I. This meant John of Gaunt felt he had a right to the throne through his wife.

How the Treaty Solved the Problem

The Treaty of Bayonne in 1388 finally settled who would be the next ruler. It did this by arranging a marriage between two young people from the families who were fighting. These were Henry, who was the son of King John I of Castile, and Catherine, who was the daughter of John of Gaunt and Constance of Castile.

This young prince and princess were given a special title: Prince of Asturias. This title has been used ever since for the future kings and queens of Castile, and later for the heirs to the throne of Spain.

As part of the treaty, John of Gaunt gave up his claim to the throne. In return, he received a large payment of 600,000 gold francs and a yearly payment of 40,000 gold francs. The treaty also said that the children of Peter I, who had been held captive, should be set free.

What the Treaty Meant for Europe

By 1388, many parts of Europe were very tired. They had been fighting in the Hundred Years' War for a long time, and the terrible disease called the Black Death had also caused a lot of suffering. Because of this, many countries were ready to make peace.

England did not want Spain to be allies with France, as this would make France stronger. France and Castile had even signed an agreement in June to plan a naval attack against England. However, France had also been talking with John of Gaunt about him giving up his claim to the Castilian throne.

In 1389, a peace agreement called the Truce of Leulinghem was made. This truce included England, France, Castile, Scotland, Burgundy, and Portugal. It brought a time of peace to the Hundred Years' War, which lasted until about 1415.

See also

In Spanish: Tratado de Bayona (1388) para niños