Treaty of Sahagún (1158) facts for kids

The Treaty of Sahagún was an important agreement signed on May 23, 1158. It brought an end to a conflict between the Kingdom of Castile and the Kingdom of León. The treaty created "peace and true friendship" between their kings, Sancho III of Castile and Ferdinand II of León. They even called themselves "good brothers and good friends." The agreement was signed at a monastery in Sahagún, a town in Spain.

Why the Kings Needed a Treaty

The two kings, Sancho III and Ferdinand II, were brothers. Their father, King Alfonso VII, died in 1157. He divided his large kingdom between his two sons. Sancho, the older brother, received Castile and the city of Toledo. Ferdinand, the younger brother, received León and the region of Galicia.

Some people at the time believed that powerful nobles caused problems between the brothers. These nobles wanted to create disagreements. One story says that King Ferdinand II took away lands from some important nobles. These nobles then went to King Sancho III for help. This led to King Sancho marching his army towards León. But instead of fighting, the brothers decided to meet and talk. They met in Sahagún to make peace.

What the Treaty Decided

The Treaty of Sahagún helped solve the problems between the kings.

• King Sancho agreed to give back lands he had taken from his brother.
• However, some powerful counts would hold these lands. They would promise loyalty to King Ferdinand. These counts included Ponce Giraldo de Cabrera, Osorio Martínez, and Ponce de Minerva.
• If either king broke the treaty, the lands would go back to the other king after one year. But Osorio Martínez got special rights, keeping his lands forever.

The treaty also made sure that if these counts died, their sons or other specific noblemen would take their place.

Helping Each Other in Battle

Sancho and Ferdinand also promised to help each other in wars. They would fight together against any enemy. The only exception was their uncle, Raymond Berengar IV, who was the Prince of Aragon. They also agreed not to make alliances with King Afonso I of Portugal of Portugal.

Dividing Future Conquests

The treaty even planned for the future. It divided Portugal between them, in case they conquered it. It also split up the lands of al-Andalus (parts of Spain ruled by Muslims) into areas each king could conquer. This was part of the reconquista, which was the Christian effort to retake land from Muslim rule.

León was given the right to conquer areas like Niebla, Mérida, Badajoz, and Silves. This would extend their territory all the way to the sea.

Succession to the Throne

One of the most important parts of the treaty was about who would rule next. It stated that if either king died, his kingdom would pass to the other brother. This meant that if Sancho died, Ferdinand would become king of both Castile and León.

Many important people witnessed and agreed to the treaty. This included nobles, church leaders, and even the kings' aunt, Sancha Raimúndez, who was called "queen."

After the Treaty

Sadly, King Sancho III died very soon after the treaty was signed, on August 31, 1158. King Ferdinand II quickly claimed Castile, as the treaty allowed. He took control of some areas. However, the nobles in Castile started a civil war. They wanted to control Sancho's young son, Alfonso VIII, who was the new heir to Castile.

See also

In Spanish: Tratado de Sahagún (1158) para niños