Family
Violante was ten years old at the time of her marriage to Alfonso; she produced no children for several years and it was feared that she was barren. Alfonso almost had their marriage annulled, but they went on to have eleven children:
- Berengaria (1253 – after 1284). She was betrothed to Louis, the son and heir of King Louis IX of France, but her fiance died prematurely in 1260. She entered the convent in Las Huelgas, where she was living in 1284.
- Beatrice (1254–1280). She married William VII, Marquess of Montferrat.
- Ferdinand de la Cerda, Infante of Castile (23 October 1255 – 25 July 1275). He married Blanche, the daughter of King Louis IX of France, by whom he had two children. Because he predeceased his father, his younger brother Sancho inherited the throne.
- Eleanor (1257–1275)
- Sancho IV of Castile (13 May 1258–1295)
- Constance (1258 – 22 August 1280), a nun at Las Huelgas.
- Peter (June 1260 – 10 October 1283)
- John, Lord of Valencia de Campos (March or April 1262 – 25 June 1319).
- Isabella, died young.
- Violant (1265–1296). She married Diego López V de Haro, Lord of Biscay
- James (August 1266 – 9 August 1284), Lord of Cameros
Alfonso X also had several illegitimate children. With Mayor Guillen de Guzmán, daughter of Guillén Pérez de Guzmán and of María González Girón, he fathered:
- Beatrice, married King Afonso III of Portugal. An illegitimate son, Martin, was Abbot of Valladolid.
With Elvira Rodríguez de Villada, daughter of Rodrigo Fernández de Villada, he fathered:
- Alfonso Fernández de Castilla (1242–1281), also known as el nino, he was señor de Molina and of Mesa through his marriage with Blanca Alfonso de Molina.
With María Alfonso de León, his aunt, the illegitimate daughter of the King Alfonso IX of Leon and Teresa Gil de Soberosa he had:
- Berenguela Alfonso of Castile, who married after 1264 with Pedro Núñez de Guzmán but she died young leaving behind no descendants.
Read more about this topic: Alfonso X Of Castile
Famous quotes containing the word family:
“Nor does the family even move about together,
But every son would have his motor cycle,
And daughters ride away on casual pillions.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)
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—Philip Roth (20th century)
“Happy or unhappy, families are all mysterious. We have only to imagine how differently we would be describedand will be, after our deathsby each of the family members who believe they know us.”
—Gloria Steinem (b. 1934)