Queens and Princesses of the Spanish Kingdoms: Ages at First Marriage
I have only included women whose birth dates and dates of marriage are known within at least 1-2 years, therefore, this is not a comprehensive list. This data set ends with the transition to Habsburg-controlled Spain.
Sancha, wife of King Fernando I of Léon; age 14 when she married Fernando in 1032 CE
Ermesinda of Bigorre, wife of King Ramiro I of Aragon; age 21 when she married Ramiro in 1036 CE
Sancha, daughter of King Ramiro I of Aragon; age 18 when she married Count Ermengol III of Urgell in 1063 CE
Constance of Burgundy, wife of King Alfonso VI of Léon & Castile; age 19 when she married Count Hugh II of Chalon in 1065 CE
Felicia of Roucy, wife of King Sancho of Aragon; age 16 when she married Sancho in 1076 CE
Agnes of Aquitaine, wife of King Pedro I of Aragon; age 14 when she married Pedro in 1086 CE
Teresa, daughter of King Alfonso VI of Léon & Castile; age 13 when she married Count Henri of Burgundy in 1093 CE
Elvira, daughter of King Alfonso VI of Léon & Castile; age 15 when she married Count Raymond IV of Toulouse in 1094 CE
Bertha, wife of King Pedro I of Aragon; age 22 when she married Pedro in 1097 CE
Elvira, daughter of King Alfonso VI of Léon & Castile; age 17 when she married King Ruggero II of Sicily in 1117 CE
Berenguela of Barcelona, wife of King Alfonso VII of Léon & Castile; age 12 when she married Alfonso in 1128 CE
Urraca, daughter of King Alfonso VII of Léon; age 11 when she married King Garcia Ramirez of Navarre in 1144 CE
Petronilla, daughter of King Ramiro II of Aragon; age 14 when she married Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona in 1150 CE
Richeza of Poland, wife of King Alfonso VII of Léon & Castile; age 12 when she married Alfonso in 1152 CE
Sancha, daughter of King Alfonso VII of Léon & Castile; age 14 when she married King Sancho VI of Navarre in 1153 CE
Constanza, daughter of King Alfonso VII of Léon & Castile; age 16 when she married King Louis VII of France in 1154 CE
Urraca of Portugal, wife of King Fernando II of Léon; age 17 when she married Fernando in 1165 CE
Eleanor of England, wife of King Alfonso VIII of Castile; age 9 when she married Alfonso in 1170 CE
Sancha of Castile, wife of King Alfonso II of Aragon; age 20 when she married Alfonso in 1174 CE
Dulce, daughter of Queen Petronilla of Aragon; age 14 when she married King Sancho I of Portugal in 1174 CE
Berenguela, daughter of King Alfonso VIII of Castile; age 7 when she married Duke Conrad II of Swabia in 1187 CE
Marie of Montpellier, wife of King Pedro II of Aragon; age 10 when she married Viscount Raymond Geoffrey II of Marseille in 1192 CE
Garsenda of Foralquier, wife of Prince Alfonso II of Aragon; age 13 when she married Alfonso in 1193 CE
Constance of Toulouse, wife King Sancho VII of Navarre; age 15 when she married Sancho in 1195 CE
Constanza, daughter of King Alfonso II of Aragon; age 19 when she married King Emeric of Hungary in 1198 CE
Blanca of Castile, daughter of King Alfonso VIII of Castile; age 12 when she married King Louis VIII of France in 1200 CE
Eleonora, daughter of King Alfonso II of Aragon; age 22 when she married Count Raymond VI of Toulouse in 1204 CE
Urraca, daughter of King Alfonso VIII of Castile; age 19 when she married King Afonso II of Portugal in 1206 CE
Mafalda of Portugal, wife of King Enrique I of Castile; age 20 when she married Enrique in 1215 CE
Sancha, daughter of King Alfonso II of Aragon; age 25 when she married Count Raymond VII of Toulouse in 1211 CE
Elisabeth of Swabia, wife of King Fernando III of Castile; age 14 when she married Fernando in 1219 CE
Eleonora of Castile, wife of King Jaime I of Aragon; age 19 when she married Jaime in 1221 CE
Berenguela, daughter of King Alfonso IX of Léon; age 20 when she married Emperor Jean I of Brienne in 1224 CE
Marguerite of Bourbon, wife of King Teobaldo I of Navarre; age 15 when she married Teobaldo in 1232 CE
Yolanda of Hungary, wife of King Jaime I of Aragon; age 20 when she married Jaime in 1235 CE
Joan of Dammartin, wife of King Fernando III of Castile; age 17 when she married Fernando in 1237 CE
Yolanda, daughter of King Jaime I of Aragon; age 13 when she married King Alfonso X of Castile in 1249 CE
Isabelle of France, wife of King Teobaldo II of Navarre; age 14 when she married Teobaldo in 1255 CE
Kristina of Norway, wife of Prince Felipe of Castile; age 24 when she married Felipe in 1258 CE
Beatriz, daughter of King Teobaldo I of Navarre; age 16 when she married Duke Hugues IV of Burgundy in 1258 CE
Constanza, daughter of King Jaime I of Aragon; age 21 when she married Prince Manuel of Castile in 1260 CE
Constanza of Sicily, wife of King Pedro III of Aragon; age 13 when she married Pedro in 1262 CE
Isabel, daughter of King Jaime I of Aragon; age 14 when she married King Louis IX of France in 1262 CE
Beatrice of Savoy, wife of Prince Manuel of Castile; age 18 when she married Pierre of Chalon in 1268 CE
Blanche of France, wife of Prince Fernando of Castile; age 16 when she married Fernando in 1269 CE
Blanche of Artois, wife of King Enrique I of Navarre; age 21 when she married Enrique in 1269 CE
Beatriz, daughter of King Alfonso X of Castile; age 17 when she married Marquis William VII of Montferrat in 1271 CE
Esclaramunda of Foix, wife of King Jaime II of Majorca; age 25 when she married Jaime in 1275 CE
Maria de Molina, wife of King Sancho IV of Castile; age 17 when she married Sancho in 1282 CE
Yolanda, daughter of King Alfonso X of Castile; age 17 when she married Diego Lopez V de Haro in 1282 CE
Juana, daughter of King Enrique I of Navarre; age 11 when she married King Philippe IV of France in 1284 CE
Maria Diaz I de Haro, wife of Prince Juan of Castile; age 17 when she married Juan in 1287 CE
Yolanda, daughter of Prince Manuel of Castile; age 12 when she married Prince Afonso of Portugal in 1287 CE
Isabel, daughter of King Pedro III of Aragon; age 17 when she married King Denis of Portugal in 1288 CE
Isabel of Castile, wife of King Jaime II of Aragon; age 8 when she married Jaime in 1291 CE
Blanche of Anjou, wife of King Jaime II of Aragon; age 15 when she married Jaime in 1295 CE
Yolanda, daughter of King Pedro III of Aragon; age 24 when she married Prince Roberto of Naples in 1297 CE
Constanza of Portugal, wife of King Fernando IV of Castile; age 12 when she married Fernando in 1302 CE
Beatriz, daughter of King Sancho IV of Castile; age 16 when she married King Afonso IV of Portugal in 1309 CE
Maria, daughter of King Jaime II of Aragon; age 12 when she married Prince Pedro of Castile in 1311 CE
Constanza, daughter of King Jaime II of Aragon; age 12 when she married Prince Juan Manuel of Villena in 1312 CE
Teresa d'Entença, wife of King Alfonso IV of Aragon; age 14 when she married Alfonso in 1314 CE
Marie of Lusignan, wife of King Jaime II of Aragon; age 42 when she married Jaime in 1315 CE
Isabel, daughter of King Jaime II of Aragon; age 10 when she married King Frederick I of Germany in 1315 CE
Eleonora of Castile, wife of Prince Jaime of Aragon; age 12 when she married Jaime in 1319 CE
Elisenda of Montcada, wife of King Jaime II of Aragon; age 30 when she married Jaime in 1322 CE
Blanca de La Cerda y Lara, wife of Prince Juan Manuel of Castile; age 10 when she married Juan Manuel in 1327 CE
Constanza, daughter of King Alfonso IV of Aragon; age 18 when she married King Jaime III of Majorca in 1336 CE
Cecilia of Comminges, wife of Prince Jaime of Aragon; age 16 when she married Jaime in 1336 CE
Maria of Navarre, wife of King Pedro IV of Aragon; age 8 when she married Pedro in 1337 CE
Leonor of Portugal, wife of King Pedro IV of Aragon; age 19 when she married Pedro in 1347 CE
Eleonora of Sicily, wife of King Pedro IV of Aragon; age 24 when she married Pedro in 1349 CE
Juana Manuel, daughter of Prince Juan Manuel; age 11 when she married King Enrique of Castile in 1350 CE
Blanche of Bourbon, wife of King Pedro of Castile; age 14 when she married Pedro in 1353 CE
Constanza, daughter of King Pedro IV of Aragon; age 18 when she married King Federico of Sicily in 1361 CE
Maria de Luna, wife of King Martin of Aragon; age 14 when she married Martin in 1372 CE
Juana, daughter of King Pedro IV of Aragon; age 29 when she married Count Juan I of Ampurias in 1373 CE
Marthe of Armagnac, wife of King Juan I of Aragon; age 26 when she married Juan in 1373 CE
Beatriz of Portugal, wife of Prince Sancho of Castile; age 19 when she married Sancho in 1373 CE
Eleonora of Aragon, daughter of King Pedro IV of Aragon; age 17 when she married King Juan I of Castile in 1375 CE
Eleonora, daughter of King Enrique II of Castile; age 12 when she married King Carlos III of Navarre in 1375 CE
Isabel of Portugal, wife of Count Alfonso Enriquez; age 13 when she married Alfonso in 1377 CE
Violant of Bar, wife of King Juan I of Aragon; age 15 when she married Juan in 1380 CE
Beatriz of Portugal, wife of King Juan I of Castile; age 10 when she married Juan in 1383 CE
Juana, daughter of King Juan I of Aragon; age 17 when she married Count Matthieu of Foix in 1392 CE
Eleonora of Albuquerque, wife of King Fernando I of Aragon; age 20 when she married Fernando in 1394 CE
Yolanda, daughter of King Juan of Aragon; age 19 when she married Duke Louis II of Anjou in 1400 CE
Blanca I of Navarre, wife of Prince Martin of Aragon; age 15 when she married Martin in 1402 CE
Juana, daughter of King Carlos III of Navarre; age 20 when she married Count Jean I of Foix in 1402 CE
Beatriz, daughter of King Carlos III of Navarre; age 14 when she married Count James II of La Marche in 1406 CE
Isabel, daughter of King Pedro IV of Aragon; age 31 when she married Count Jaime II of Urgell in 1407 CE
Margarita of Prades, wife of King Martin of Aragon; age 14 when she married Martin in 1409 CE
Maria of Castile, wife of King Alfonso V of Aragon; age 14 when she married Alfonso in 1415 CE
Catalina of Castile, wife of Prince Enrique of Aragon; age 15 when she married Enrique in 1418 CE
Isabel, daughter of King Carlos III of Navarre; age 24 when she married Jean IV of Armagnac in 1419 CE
Maria, daughter of King Fernando I of Aragon; age 17 when she married King Juan II of Castile in 1420 CE
Eleonora, daughter of King Fernando I of Aragon; age 26 when she married King Duarte of Portugal in 1428 CE
Agnes of Cleves, wife of Prince Carlos of Aragon; age 17 when she married Carlos in 1439 CE
Blanca II of Navarre, daughter of King Juan II of Aragon and Queen Blanca I of Navarre; age 18 when she married King Enrique IV of Castile in 1440 CE
Eleonora of Navarre, daughter of King Juan II of Aragon and Queen Blanca 1 of Navarre; age 15 when she married Count Gaston IV of Foix in 1441 CE
Juana Enriquez, wife of King Juan II of Aragon; age 19 when she married Juan in 1444 CE
Isabel of Portugal, wife of King Juan II of Castile; age 19 when she married Juan in 1447 CE
Joana of Portugal, wife of King Enrique IV of Castile; age 16 when she married Enrique in 1455 CE
Isabel I of Castile, wife of King Fernando II of Aragon; age 18 when she married Fernando in 1469 CE
Juana, daughter of King Enrique IV of Castile; age 13 when she married King Afonso V of Portugal in 1475 CE
Juana, daughter of King Juan II of Aragon; age 21 when she married King Fernando I of Naples in 1476 CE
Isabel, daughter of King Fernando II of Aragon; age 20 when she married Prince Afonso of Portugal in 1490 CE
Juana, daughter of King Fernando II of Aragon; age 22 when she married Felipe I of Castile in 1501 CE
Margaret of Austria, wife of Prince Juan of Aragon; age 17 when she married Juan in 1497 CE
Maria, daughter of King Fernando II of Aragon; age 18 when she married King Manuel I of Portugal in 1500 CE
Catalina, daughter of King Fernando II of Aragon; age 15 when she married Prince Arthur of England in 1501 CE
Germaine of Foix, wife of King Fernando II of Aragon; age 18 when she married Fernando in 1506 CE
112 women; average age at first marriage was 16. The eldest bride was 42 years old, and the youngest was 7.
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Berenguela de Barcelona
She was a very beautiful and extremely graceful young girl who loved chastity and truth and all God-fearing people.
Berenguela was the daughter of Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona and his third wife Dolça I de Gévaudaun, Countess of Provence. Although her date of birth is unknown, the sources place it between 1108 and 1116. It is known that Berenguela had a good relationship with her older sister, María de Osona, who was the daughter of the first marriage of her father with María Rodríguez, the daughter of El Cid Campeador.
In 1128 Berenguela married Alfonso VII, King of León, Castile and Galicia. She becoming the first queen of the newly reigning dynasty of the House of Ivrea. In 1135, Alfonso VII was crowned “Emperor of Spain” (Imperator totius Hispaniae) in the Cathedral of León. The imperial couple had seven children, of whom Sancho III was King of Castile and Fernando II King of León. The daughters, Constanza and Sancha, became Queens consorts of France and Navarre.
Historians who have dedicated to studying her life consider that Berenguela de Barcelona was one of the characters who deserves a privileged position in the history of Spain. She actively participated in political life and was patroness of the arts. She accompanied her husband in the battles, stopped the uprising in Asturias and heroically resisted the besieged of Toledo by the Muslims. She also introduced a taste for Provencal troubadours to the kingdom, supported writers who narrated the exploits of El Cid and encouraged pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela, where she was buried in 1149.
Berenguela nació en el prestigioso y rico condado de Barcelona como hija del conde Ramón Berenguer III y de su segunda esposa Dulce de Provenza. La joven barcelonesa destacó por su inteligencia y gran belleza, llegando su fama hasta la corte del rey Alfonso VII de Léon, Castilla y Galicia, hijo de la legendaria reina Urraca. Al parecer fue un noble, Armengol de Urgel, quien le facilitó los trámites para entrar en contacto con los condes de Barcelona. El rey de León tenía poco más de veinte años y no estaba casado, ni siquiera había ninguna candidatura seria para un matrimonio, que tarde o temprano tendría que celebrarse.
Una vez prometida al rey Alfonso VII, Berenguela de Barcelona emprendió un largo viaje. Desde Barcelona hasta la corte de su futuro marido, debía cruzar los dominios del rey aragonés Alfonso el Batallador, quien estaba en disputa con Castilla por cuestiones territoriales y fronterizas. Para evitarlo, Berenguela y su comitiva tuvieron que hacer parte del viaje por el sur de Francia, llegar hasta el Golfo de Vizcaya y fletar unas barcazas que, bordeando la costa cantábrica, les permitieran desembarcar en un puerto controlado por los leoneses.
A finales de 1128 o enero de 1129, los prometidos contraían matrimonio en la villa de Saldaña. Con motivo de las celebraciones de los esponsales, que duraron varios días, se dice que tuvo lugar la primera corrida de toros celebrada en la Península. La pareja imperial tuvo siete hijos, destacándose Sancho III de Castilla y Fernando II de León. La joven reina forjó una gran amistad con su cuñada la infanta Sancha Raimúndez, llegando a ser ambas las principales consejeras de Alfonso VII. Berenguela participó en la política de forma activa, fue la principal responsable de apagar la rebelión del conde de Asturias Gonzalo Peláez y acompañó a su esposo a la guerra en muchas ocasiones, participando así de sus victorias.
En 1135 tuvo lugar la coronación de Alfonso VII como Imperator totius Hispaniae en la catedral de León, gran parte de los nobles presentes en el acto habían llegado gracias a los contactos de la reina y su familia; así su hermano Ramón Berenguer IV, Armengol de Urgel, el conde Alfonso Jordán de Tolosa, el de Montpellier, el duque de Gascuña, el de Foix y otros grandes señores del Sur de Francia. A ella, entonces, cupo el gran honor de ser la Emperatriz consorte de Hispania.
Nos dice la crónica de Alfonso VII que en 1139 la reina Berenguela fue la responsable de una heroica resistencia en Toledo. Habiendo partido su marido al sitio del castillo de Aurelia, encargó a su esposa la defensa de la ciudad. Pero la campaña se alargó demasiado y Toledo fue sitiada por las tropas musulmanas. Berenguela reunió un pequeño ejército, pero, consciente de su inferioridad, decidió intentar una jugada diplomática para tratar de evitar la lucha. Indignada por la destrucción de la torre de San Servando, cercana a la ciudad, Berenguela envió un mensajero con una carta al campo enemigo que decía lo siguiente:
"¿No conocéis que es mengua de caballeros y capitanes esforzados acometer a una mujer indefensa cuando tan cerca os espera el emperador? Si quereis pelear id a Aurelia y allí podréis acreditar que sois valientes, como aquí dejar demostrado que sois hombres de honor si os retiráis".
La reina Berenguela apareció además sentada sobre un trono real en una de las torres, rodeada de sus doncellas, que cantaban con tímpanos, cítaras, címbalos y salterios. Los musulmanes quedaron impresionados por la nobleza de la reina y levantaron inmediatamente el cerco, marchando a luchar contra Alfonso. Cuando el alcaide de Toledo, Nuño Alfonso, entró victorioso en la ciudad portando las cabezas de los emires de Sevilla y Córdoba, las mandó colgar de las torres del alcázar, pero la reina se apiadó, ordenando que las embalsamaran y enviaran a sus viudas en cofres de oro. Una torre en Toledo (la Torre de la Reina) recuerda la gesta de la reina Berenguela.
Berenguela es recordada como una prudente reina que sacrificó sus sentimientos dando prioridad a los intereses de la corona. Cuando de las infidelidades de su esposo con la noble asturiana Gontrodo Pérez nació una hija, doña Urraca, la reina perdonó a su esposo y quiso ganárselo mediante el cariño. Aún más, cuando Urraca casó con el rey de Navarra García el Restaurador, la reina Berenguela se encargó de preparar los esponsales con gran pompa y asistió, dando gran realce a la ceremonia. Mujer culta, Berenguela fue una gran mecenas y amante de las artes, a ella se debe el impulso de la poesía provenzal en el reino, apoyó a escritores que narraban las hazañas del Cid y fomentó el peregrinaje a Santiago de Compostela, donde fue enterrada. Su muerte fue muy lamentada, tanto que, según los historiadores de la época, el año 1149 fue usado en los documentos como punto de partida para fechar los acontecimientos, bajo la fórmula "año en que falleció la señora emperatriz".
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EL CONDE SISEBUTO; Joaquín Abatí Díaz
A cuatro leguas de Pinto
y a treinta de Marmolejo,
existe un castillo viejo
que edificó Chindasvinto.
Perteneció a un gran señor
algo feudal y algo bruto;
se llamaba Sisebuto,
y su esposa, Leonor,
y Cunegunda, su hermana,
y su madre, Berenguela,
y una prima de su abuela
atendía por Mariana.
Y su cuñado, Vitelio,
y Cleopatra, su tía,
y su nieta, Rosalía,
y el hijo mayor, Rogelio.
Era una noche de invierno,
noche cruda y tenebrosa,
noche sombría, espantosa,
noche atroz, noche de infierno,
noche fría, noche helada,
noche triste, noche oscura,
noche llena de amargura,
noche infausta, noche airada.
En un gótico salón
dormitaba Sisebuto,
y un lebrel seco y enjuto
roncaba en el portalón.
Con quejido lastimero
el viento fuera silbaba,
e imponente se escuchaba
el ruido del aguacero.
Cabalgando en un corcel
de color verde botella,
raudo como una centella
llega al castillo un doncel.
Empapada trae la ropa
por efecto de las aguas,
¡como no lleva paraguas
viene el pobre hecho una sopa!
Salta el foso, llega al muro,
la poterna está cerrada.
-¡Me ha dado mico mi amada!
-exclama-. ¡Vaya un apuro!
De pronto, algo que resbala
siente sobre su cabeza,
extiende el brazo, y tropieza
¡con la cuerda de una escala!
-¡Ah!... -dice con fiero acento.
-¡Ah!.. -vuelve a decir gozoso.
-¡Ah!.. -repite venturoso.
-¡Ah!.. -otra vez, y así, hasta ciento.
Trepa que trepa que trepa,
sube que sube que sube,
en brazos cae de un querube,
la hija del conde, la Pepa.
En lujoso camarín
introduce a su adorado,
y al notar que está mojado
le seca bien con serrín.
-Lisardo ... mi bien, mi anhelo,
único ser que yo adoro,
el de los cabellos de oro,
el de la nariz de cielo,
¿qué sientes, di, dueño mío?,
¿no sientes nada a mi lado?,
¿que sientes, Lisardo amado?
Y él responde: -Siento frío.
-¿Frío has dicho? Eso me espanta.
¿Frío has dicho? eso me inquieta.
No llevarás camiseta
¿verdad?... pues toma esa manta.
-Ahora hablemos del cariño
que nuestras almas disloca.
Yo te amo como una loca.
-Yo te adoro como un niño.
-Mi pasión raya en locura,
si no me quieres, me mato.
-La mía es un arrebato,
si me olvidas, me hago cura.
-¿Cura tú? ¡Por Dios bendito!
No repitas esas frases,
¡en jamás de los jamases!
¡Pues estaría bonito!
Hija soy de Sisebuto
desde mi más tierna infancia,
y aunque es mucha mi arrogancia,
y aunque es un padre muy bruto,
y aunque temo sus furores,
y aunque sé a lo que me expongo,
huyamos... vamos al Congo
a ocultar nuestros amores.
-Bien dicho, bien has hablado,
huyamos aunque se enojen,
y si algún día nos cojen,
¡que nos quiten lo bailado!
En esto, un ronco ladrido
retumba potente y fiero.
-¿Oyes? -dice el caballero-,
es el perro que me ha olido.
Se abre una puerta excusada
y, cual terrible huracán,
entra un hombre..., luego un can...,
luego nadie..., luego nada...
-¡Hija infame! -ruge el conde.
¿Qué haces con este señor?
¿Dónde has dejado mi honor?
¿Dónde?, ¿dónde?, ¿dónde?. ¿dónde?
Y tú, cobarde villano,
antipático, repara
cómo señalo tu cara
con los dedos de mi mano.
Después, sacando un puñal,
de un solo golpe certero
le enterró el cortante acero
junto a la espina dorsal.
El joven, naturalmente,
se murió como un conejo.
Ella frunció el entrecejo
y enloqueció de repente.
También quedó el conde loco
de resultas del espanto,
y el perro... no llegó a tanto,
pero le faltó muy poco.
Desde aquel día de horror
nada se volvió a saber
del conde, de su mujer,
la llamada Leonor,
de Cunegunda su hermana,
de su madre Berenguela,
de la prima de su abuela
que atendía por Mariana,
de su cuñado Vitelio,
de Cleopatra su tía,
de su nieta Rosalía
ni de su chico Rogelio.
Y aquí acaba la leyenda
verídica, interesante,
romántica, fulminante,
estremecedora, horrenda,
que de aquel castillo viejo
entenebrece el recinto,
a cuatro leguas de Pinto
y a treinta de Marmolejo.
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