Violant of Aragon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Violant of Aragon |
|
|---|---|
Violant of Aragon with Alfonso X of Castile in 13th century manuscript Tumbo de Touxos Outos
|
|
| Queen consort of Castile and León | |
| Tenure | 1252–1284 |
| Born | 8 June 1236 Zaragoza, Kingdom of Aragon (now in Autonomous community of Aragon, Spain) |
| Died | 1301 (aged 64–65) Roncesvalles, Kingdom of Navarre, France (now in Chartered Community of Navarre, Spain |
| Spouse | Alfonso X of Castile |
| Issue among others... |
Beatrice, Marchioness of Montferrat Ferdinand de la Cerda Sancho IV of Castile |
| House | Barcelona |
| Father | James I of Aragon |
| Mother | Violant of Hungary |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Violant of Aragon (born June 8, 1236 – died 1301) was a queen in the Middle Ages. She was the wife of King Alfonso X of Castile. This made her the Queen consort of Castile and Queen consort of León from 1252 to 1284.
Contents
Early Life and Marriage
Violant was born in Zaragoza, a city in the Kingdom of Aragon. Her father was King James I of Aragon, and her mother was Yolande of Hungary.
In January 1249, when Violant was about 12 years old, she married King Alfonso X of Castile in Burgos. Before their marriage, King Alfonso had a daughter named Beatrice with another woman.
Becoming a Mother
For a few years after her marriage, Violant did not have any children. King Alfonso worried that his wife might not be able to have children. He even thought about asking the Pope to end their marriage.
There's a story that a doctor told the Queen to rest. When the city of Alicante was taken back by the Kingdom of Castile, the King and Queen rested at a farm nearby. It was there that Violant became pregnant. The King decided to name the place "Pla del Bon Repos," which means "Plain of good sleep." This name is still used today for a part of Alicante.
Royal Family Challenges
In 1275, Violant's oldest son, Ferdinand de la Cerda, who was supposed to become the next king, sadly died. After Ferdinand's death, King Alfonso X first decided that his second son, Prince Sancho, would be the next heir. Sancho later became King Sancho IV of Castile.
Supporting Her Grandchildren
Ferdinand's wife, Blanche of France, asked her brother, King Philip III of France, for help. At the same time, Queen Violant wanted to protect her grandchildren, Alfonso and Fernando (Ferdinand's sons). She asked her own brother, King Peter III of Aragon, for support. He agreed to keep them safe in the Kingdom of Aragon, giving them a home in the Castle of Xativa.
During the time her son Sancho IV and later her grandson Ferdinand IV of Castile ruled, Queen Violant lived mostly in Aragon. She continued to support her grandson, Alfonso de la Cerda, and his claim to the throne of Castile and León.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1276, Queen Violant started a special place called the Convent of San Pablo in Valladolid. This convent was built to honor the Hungarian Order of St. Paul. Violant's mother, Yolande of Hungary, had brought some Hungarian traditions to Spain, including this religious order.
Queen Violant passed away in Roncesvalles, a town in Navarre, in 1301. She was returning from Rome, where she had gone for a special religious event called the Jubilee in the year 1300.
Children
Alfonso and Violant had many children:
- Berengaria (1253 – after 1284). She was supposed to marry Louis, the son of King Louis IX of France, but he died young. She later became a nun.
- Beatrice (1254–1280). She married William VII, Marquess of Montferrat.
- Ferdinand de la Cerda, Infante of Castile (October 23, 1255 – July 25, 1275). He married Blanche, the daughter of King Louis IX of France. They had two children. Ferdinand died before his father, so his younger brother Sancho became the next king.
- Eleanor (1257–1275).
- Sancho IV of Castile (May 13, 1258 – 1295). He became King of Castile after his father.
- Constance (1258 – August 22, 1280). She was a nun.
- Peter, Lord of Ledesma (June 1260 – October 10, 1283).
- John, Lord of Valencia de Campos (March or April 1262 – June 25, 1319).
- Isabella. She died when she was young.
- Violant (1265–1296). She married Diego López V de Haro.
- James, Lord of Cameros (August 1266 – August 9, 1284).
See also
In Spanish: Violante de Aragón para niños
