Alfonso viii king of castile

King Alfonso VIII of Castile was born November 11th, 1155, became king of Castile at the tender age of 3 in 1158, and died on October 5th, 1214.

Deservedly known as “The Noble,” he is perhaps best remembered for his amazing victory over the Muslim Almohad army at the battle of Las Navas in 1212, which was one of the most significant battles in history.

Since Alfonso’s father, Sancho III, died after a reign of only one year, Alfonso could not truly rule due to his extreme youth.

Eleanor of castile

Noblemen, claiming to act in his name, or simply vying for power, began to tear the kingdom apart with their strife. Surviving a series of intrigues, Alfonso eventually came to wield the power of the monarchy at a young age and managed to restore his kingdom.

King Alfonso VIII was married to Queen Leonore of England, the sister of King Richard the Lion Heart. They had eleven children, the eldest daughter was named Berenguera, and she eventually became the mother of