Alfonso of Molina - Life

Life

Alfonso was born near the city of León in 1202. As the son of Alfonso IX of León and Queen Berengaria of Castile, he witnessed the bad relations between the two kingdoms during his childhood, after the annulment of his parents' marriage. At the Battle of Navas de Tolosa, which took place in 1212, his father and the King of Portugal were the only kings from the Iberian Peninsula who did not take part, in contrast to those of Castile, Aragon, and Navarre. In fact, Alfonso IX took advantage of the absence of his cousin Alfonso VIII to invade Castile.

In 1222 Ferdinand III found himself at odds with Gonzalo Pérez de Lara, Lord of Molina, due to the latter's misconduct and support of Alfonso IX. But the two kings managed to come to terms, ratifying the Treaty of Zafra in 1223. Berengaria played an active role in the negotiations. The aim of Gonzalo's misconduct, including the devastation of some villages near Medinaceli, was to foment an uprising of Castilian nobles against Ferdinand in support of his father.

Ferdinand was now bitterly opposed to the excessive autonomy enjoyed by the Gonzalo and his family, the House of Lara, one of the most powerful in the realm alongside that of Haro. He laid siege to the fortress of Zafra, where Gonzalo lay hidden along with his retainers and family. Gonzalo was forced to surrender and accept the conditions imposed on him. The first of these was that the Lordship of Molina would not, upon his death, pass to his son Gonzalo Pérez "the Disinherited" de Lara, but rather to his daughter Mafalda González de Lara, who would meanwhile marry Prince Alfonso. Thus the Crown would establish control over the Lordship of Molina. The marriage occurred in 1240, and on Gonzalo's death, Prince Alfonso inherited the title Lord of Molina and governed the Lordship for the rest of his life, at first in collaboration with his wife, and then, after her death, alone, just as stipulated in the marriage contract. In 1240 he expanded the privileges of Molina, and in 1272, on his death, his daughter Blanca did so again.

Alfonso of Molina was a man possessed of considerable virtues as well as a calm temperament, according to the chroniclers of the era. In 1230, on the death of his father Alfonso IX, he could have sought the throne of León, since Alfonso IX did not wish to bequeath it to his other son Ferdinand III, who was already King of Castile. In fact Alfonso IX named as his heirs his two daughters, Princesses Sancha and Dulce. However, thanks to a substantial financial compensation, they renounced the throne of León in the Treaty of Benavente, ratified with Ferdinand in the presence of the many magnates and prelates of the realm. Alfonso of Molina, who had previously refused the throne, was rewarded by the king with his favor, with distinctions, and with many gifts, lands, and privileges. He accompanied his brother on most of his military campaigns and was closely identified with the cause of the Reconquista as well as whatever enterprises the king might undertake.