Berenguela the Great and her times (1180-1246) / / H. Salvador Martínez ; translated by Odile Cisneros.

• Superior document: Medieval and early modern Iberian world ; Volume 81
• VerfasserIn: Martínez, H. Salvador,
• TeilnehmendeR: Cisneros, Odile,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden, The Netherlands ;, Boston : : Brill,, [2021]; ©2021
• Year of Publication: 2021
• Language: English
• Series: Medieval and early modern Iberian world ; Volume 81.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (656 pages)

This biography presents a remarkable vision of Spanish society at the beginning of the 13th century by exploring the life of Berenguela of Castile (1180-1246), a queen who dominated public life for over forty years. Born at a time when the centers of Christian power were formed, Berenguela provided royal leadership in a crucial period of Iberian history. Within the context of contemporary studies of female power throughout history, Salvador Martínez brings to life Berenguela, a queen who, through her wisdom and resolve, transformed the Iberian political and cultural scene for years to come.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations -- List of Illustrations -- Genealogical Table -- Preface to the English Translation -- Introduction: Berenguela and Her Hour -- Acknowledgements -- 1 The Forging of a New Dynasty -- 1 Genealogical Record of an Era -- 2 Her Father, Alfonso VIII the Noble -- 3 Her Mother, Eleanor Plantagenet -- 4 The Wedding of Alfonso VIII and Eleanor -- 5 The Family: Berenguela and Her Siblings -- 2 First Steps: The Hope of Castile -- 1 Berenguela, the Firstborn -- 2 A Privileged Childhood -- 3 The Curia of San Esteban de Gormaz and the Future of Berenguela -- 4 The Betrothal of Berenguela and Conrad and the Breaking Off of the Engagement -- 5 The Education of a Queen -- 3 Alfonso IX of León: Supporter or Rival? -- 1 A King's Apprentice -- 2 Alfonso, King of León -- 3 Meeting with His Cousin. Knighted at Carrión -- 4 His First Marriage Fails -- 5 From the Treaty of Tordehumos to Alarcos -- 6 "Coalition of Ungodliness" -- 4 Berenguela and Alfonso IX. A Political Marriage -- 1 A Very Calculated Decision -- 2 Eleanor and the People as Main Characters -- 3 The Emotional Side -- 4 The Wedding -- 5 Berenguela, Queen of León -- 6 The Queen's Household -- 5 Declaration of Nullity -- 1 Innocent III and the Peninsular Kingdoms -- 2 The Reprobation of Rome -- 3 The First Fruit of the Marriage -- 4 Declaration of Nullity -- 5 Challenge to the Papal Decree: Ratification of the Dowry -- 6 Marriage Annulment -- 1 A New Century -- 2 Birth of the Heir -- 3 Annulment of the Marriage -- 4 Last Days Together -- 5 Impact of the Papal Sentence -- 7 Securing the Future. Berenguela Again on Center Stage -- 1 The Paternal Household -- 2 Illness of Her Father and Last Will -- 3 Vindication: Treaty of Cabreros -- 4 Friendly Relations with Alfonso IX : A Host of Benefits -- 5 The Foundations of the New Relations between Castile and León are Established: The Treaty of Valladolid -- 6 Between the Portuguese and the Leonese -- 8 Mother and Teacher -- 1 Love and Pedagogy -- 2 Recourse to the Supernatural -- 3 Formation of Prince Fernando -- 4 Courtly Education. Multicultural Perspectives -- 5 Problems in the Kingdom. End of the Truce with the Muslims -- 6 Tragedy in the Court -- 9 Berenguela at the Highest Point of the Reconquista -- 1 Christendom on War Footing -- 2 Berenguela's Role in the Campaign -- 3 The Echo of Battle: Berenguela's Letter -- 4 The Christian Kingdoms after the Victory -- 10 The Court That Berenguela Knew -- 1 A New Courtly Lifestyle -- 2 The Spirit of the Court: Parties, Fashion, and Luxury -- 3 Culture and Letters -- 4 Impact of the Court Environment -- 11 The End of an Era -- 1 Year 1213. Last campaigns of Alfonso VIII -- 2 The Collaboration of Alfonso IX -- 3 Generational Change -- 4 The Death of Her Father -- 5 The Death of Her Mother -- 12 Regent of Castile -- 1 Guardian of Enrique I and Regent of Castile -- 2 Enrique I and Berenguela Co-Regents -- 3 The Opposition to Berenguela -- 4 Berenguela Gives Up Custody of Her Brother -- 5 Berenguela against Álvaro Núñez de Lara: The Excesses of the 'Count' -- 13 Civil War and Dramatic Ending -- 1 New Positions Assumed -- 2 Marriage of Enrique I with Mafalda of Portugal -- 3 The Search for a Solution -- 4 The Greatest Insult -- 5 Recourse to Arms -- 6 The Death of Enrique I -- 7 Berenguela: Political Insight and 'Exquisite Prudence' -- 14 Berenguela Queen of Castile -- 1 Berenguela Recognized as Heir -- 2 Transfer of the Crown to Her Son -- 3 Fernando III , King -- 4 Unexpected Proposal by Alfonso IX -- 5 Final Adieu to Her Brother Enrique -- 6 Capture of Álvaro Núñez de Lara -- 7 Rapprochement between Fernando III and His Father -- 8 End of the Laras -- 15 Berenguela's Search for a Wife for Fernando. Stabilization of the Kingdom -- 1 Fernando and Beatriz of Swabia -- 2 Berenguela at Fernando III 's Knighting Ceremony -- 3 Government Philosophy: Continuity and Innovation -- 4 Fernando III and the Nobility. Alliances and Tensions -- 5 Berenguela's Intervention: Marriage of the Infante Alfonso -- 6 Marriage Diplomacy or the Power of Persuasion -- 7 Birth of the First Grandson: Alfonso X -- 16 Facing Islam -- 1 Paralysis in the Reconquest and Disintegration of Al-Andalus -- 2 The Great Opportunity -- 3 Fernando and His Mother: Supreme Destiny -- 3.1 Miles Christi -- 4 Berenguela in the Conquest of Capilla -- 5 Family Relationships. Queen Beatriz's Illness -- 6 Rome's Support -- 17 Berenguela: Framer of the Union of Castile and León -- 1 Death of Alfonso IX -- 2 Fernando III , King of León -- 3 The Pact of the Two Mothers -- 4 Public Relations Campaign -- 5 Pending Issues at the Border -- 6 Unexpected Crisis and New Intervention by Berenguela -- 7 Death of Queen Beatriz -- 18 The Pearl of Al-Andalus. Family Occupations -- 1 Berenguela and the Conquest of Córdoba -- 2 A New Wife for Fernando -- 3 Final Assault on al-Andalus. Last Farewell to His Mother -- 4 Her Death -- 5 Portrait -- 19 Political and Cultural Legacy -- 1 Provider of the Kingdom -- 2 Religious Patronage -- 3 Berenguela and the Historiography of the 13th Century -- Conclusion: "She Had Many Gifts" -- 1 Prudent and Wise -- 2 Berenguela and Fernando -- 3 Maternity, Sexuality, and Politics -- 4 Woman and Power -- 5 Peacemaker -- Bibliography -- Index.