Treaty of Benavente facts for kids
The Treaty of Benavente was an important agreement signed on December 30, 1230. It was a deal where two princesses, Sancha and Dulce, gave up their right to rule the Kingdom of León. They handed the throne over to their half-brother, King Ferdinand III of Castile. This treaty was a big step because it brought the kingdoms of León and Castile together under one ruler.
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Why the Treaty Was Needed
Sancha and Dulce were princesses, known as infantas. They were the daughters of King Alfonso IX of León and his first wife, Theresa of Portugal. King Ferdinand III was also Alfonso IX's son, but his mother was Berenguela of Castile, Alfonso's second wife.
King Alfonso IX had planned for his daughters, Sancha and Dulce, to inherit the throne of León. However, many people in the kingdom wanted Ferdinand to be king instead. Ferdinand was already the King of Castile.
When King Alfonso IX died in September 1230, Sancha and Dulce arrived in the city of León first. But they were not welcomed as queens. Meanwhile, Ferdinand, who was busy fighting elsewhere, quickly returned to Castile. He prepared to claim the throne of León. Soon, he was recognized as the king of both Castile and León.
How the Deal Was Made
Theresa of Portugal, the mother of Sancha and Dulce, saw that her daughters were in a weak position. She reached out to Berenguela of Castile, Ferdinand's mother, to talk things over.
The two queens, Theresa and Berenguela, met in a town called Valencia. Ferdinand stayed in León. Berenguela was very smart and wanted to avoid a war. She worked out a deal where Sancha and Dulce would give up their claim to the kingdom. In return, they would receive money and other benefits.
After the agreement was made, Ferdinand joined them. Everyone then went to Benavente. The treaty was officially signed there on December 30, 1230. It was an agreement "between don Fernando, king of Castile and Toledo, of León and Galicia, and the infantas his sisters, doña Sancha and doña Dulce."
What the Treaty Said
The Treaty of Benavente had several important points:
Money for the Princesses
Ferdinand agreed to pay Sancha and Dulce a yearly income of 30,000 maravedíes. A maravedí was a type of old Spanish coin. This payment was for their entire lives.
Part of this money would come from the income of several towns and their ports. These included places like Avilés and A Coruña, and many towns in Asturias. Even though the princesses would get money from these places, the king would still control the money, the soldiers, and the laws there.
If the income from these towns wasn't enough, the rest of the money would come from a special tax called martiniega. This tax was collected from towns like Mayorga, Toro, and Zamora.
Castles as Guarantees
Twelve castles were given to the princesses. These castles were a promise that Ferdinand would keep his part of the deal. Some of these castles were Monteagudo, Ardón, and Castrogonzalo.
Ferdinand could choose the people in charge of these castles, called castellans. These castellans would be loyal to both the king and the princesses.
If one of the princesses died or got married, she would give up her share of the yearly payment. The other princess could then choose six of the twelve castles to keep as her guarantee. All the castles would go back to the king once both princesses had died or married.
Giving Up the Throne
Ferdinand also promised to get a special promise from the Pope to protect the princesses. In return, Sancha and Dulce gave up all their castles and any claim they had to the throne of León. This meant they officially agreed that Ferdinand was the rightful king of both kingdoms.
See also
In Spanish: Concordia de Benavente para niños
