Woman in history-Berengaria of Castille(1179 or 1180-1246)

Today I present woman of the Middle Ages. She is Berengaria of Castille and Toledo (in Spanish known as Berenguela de Castilla).

She was born in Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas in 1179 or 1180 near Burgos city.

Her parents was king Alfonso VIII of Castille and Eleanor of England (their pictures below)


For several years Berengaria was the heir presumptive to the throne of Castille because many of the children born later to her parents died shortly after birth or in early infancy.

During this period her parents married her off with her first husband Conrad II, Duke of Swabia when she was less than 10 years (his picture below)

For this reason the marriage was not consummated.

By 1191 Berengaria appealed to the then Pope to annul this marriage. But the marriage was not annulled. On the contrary, she became a widow when Conrad II was killed in 1196.

After that Berengaria married her first cousin king Alfonso IX of Leon in 1197 (his picture below)

Starting in 1198, Pope Innocent III objected to the marriage on the grounds of consanguinity and even threatened to excommunicate Alfonso, though the couple stayed together until 1204. They vehemently sought a dispensation in order to stay together, including offering large sums of money. The pope denied their request, but they succeeded in establishing the legitimacy of their children.

The Pope annulled this marriage in 1204.

After that Berengaria returned to her parents in Castile in May, where she dedicated herself to the care of her children:
1)Eleanor (1198/99-1202) which had died;
2)Constance (1200-1242),
Ferdinand (1201–1252)(later known as Ferdinand III of Castille);
4)Alfonso (1203–1272);
5)Berengaria (1204–1237)
These her five children survived infancy.

Sadly she lost the right to inherit Castille throne when in 14 April 1204 was born her brother, king Henry I of Castille (his picture below)

All that changed suddenly when Henry I died on 6 June 1217 after receiving a head wound. Berengaria became Queen of Castille in the same day-6 June 1217.

But she ruled just until 31 August 1217 because she abdicated in her sons Ferdinand favour. For this reason her sixteen years old son became king Ferdinand III of Castille.

Despite the fact that Berengaria did not ruled long, continued to be her son's closest advisor, intervening in state policy, albeit in an indirect manner. During this period on 11 December 1230 after the death of her second husband, Ferdinand's father Alfonso IX of Leon was signed Treaty of Benavente-kingdoms of Castille and Leon was united, her son Ferdinand III became also king of Leon. (below is the place where Treaty was signed)